Demanding AL ban, NCP organises mass rally near CA residence
Leaders and activists of Jamaat-e-Islami have joined the ongoing protest this morning alongside several other political parties and organisations
The National Citizen Party (NCP) held a mass rally near the chief adviser's residence Jamuna in Dhaka at around 2:30pm today (9 May), demanding a ban on the Awami League.
Earlier, Hasnat Abdullah, chief organiser (South) of NCP, announced that the rally would be held after Jummah prayers.
Hasnat told reporters that the rally would be held in front of the fountain near Jamuna, the residence of Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus. He has called on people from all political affiliations to participate in the demonstration, reports Prothom Alo.
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"The stage construction in front of the fountain has begun. A sea of people will gather there after Jummah. Today they will understand who wants the Awami League to be banned," Hasnat said.
He made the announcement around 8:30am today during an ongoing protest in front of Jamuna. A press briefing was also held shortly after 8am at the same location.
At around 12pm on, protesters marched towards Jamuna and gathered in front of the fountain beside the InterContinental Hotel to demonstrate. They chanted various slogans demanding a ban on the Awami League.
The demonstrators said they would offer Jummah prayers right in front of the stage, and the call to prayer (Azan) had already been given from the stage.
Protesters performed Jummah prayers in front of the stage.
Spray canons were used in an attempt to reduce the heat by spraying water at the National Citizens' Party rally.
Protests demanding the ban of the Awami League began at 10pm last night (8 May) in front of the chief adviser's residence and have continued since, according to the latest reports.
Hundreds of leaders and activists of the NCP have been participating in the demonstration, chanting slogans.
Meanwhile, around 8am today, leaders and activists of Jamaat-e-Islami joined the protest. Several hundred Jamaat activists, led by Shafiqul Islam Masud, secretary of the Dhaka South unit, were seen marching to the protest venue.
A group of protesters from Islami Andolan Bangladesh also joined NCP in its sit-in last night. The party said it would also join the rally after Jummah prayers.
Around 2am last night (9 May), NCP convenor Nahid Islam said in a brief address, "The first duty of the interim government was to ban the Awami League. We voiced this demand both inside and outside the government. But even after nine months, we are again forced to take to the streets for this cause."
Apart from the NCP, leaders and activists of various other organisations also joined the protest. After 1am, members of Hefazat-e-Islam were seen at the scene.
Around 1:30am, a few leaders of the AB Party also arrived, followed by central leaders of Islami Chhatra Shibir at 2am.
