Protest Continues for 2nd Day at Shahbagh, Traffic Halted

For the second consecutive day, students and citizens have staged protests at Shahbagh intersection in Dhaka, demanding a political ban on the Awami League, labelling it a party responsible for genocide. The demonstration has brought traffic to a standstill, although ambulances and emergency vehicles are allowed.

Since Saturday morning, protesters have gathered at the site, chanting slogans such as "Ban Awami League" and "Abu Sayed Mugdha, the war isn't over yet," reinforcing their core demand to outlaw the ruling party.

Barricades have been set up on all roads surrounding Shahbagh, causing significant inconvenience for commuters and pedestrians.

On Friday night (May 9), Hasnat Abdullah, the chief organizer of the southern region of the National Citizen Party (NCP), posted on Facebook urging supporters not to block highways across Dhaka or elsewhere in the country. He encouraged peaceful gatherings in districts, emphasizing that blockades should be lifted outside of Shahbagh.

The protest movement began on Thursday night (May 8) in front of the chief adviser's residence in Jamuna. The following day, the NCP held a rally near the Intercontinental Hotel demanding the Awami League's ban. At the rally, Hasnat Abdullah announced the Shahbagh blockade, which demonstrators promptly enforced and maintained overnight.

Later that night, around 11 pm, he called for a mass gathering at Shahbagh at 3 pm on Saturday (May 10) and announced that the sit-in would continue.