Hope govt will announce AL ban at advisory council meeting, IAB says at NCP-led Shahbag mass rally
With the rally set to begin any time now, a huge number of new protesters have joined the existing ones in Shahbag intersection
Highlights:
- NCP, some other political parties continue Shahbag blockade demanding a ban on AL
- Mass rally seeking ban set to begin
- Protest spreads to multiple districts, including Chattogram and Rajshahi
- Hasnat urges rallies, but no other highways except Shahbag
- NCP calls on BNP to join the movement
- BNP says AL ban decision is for EC and government
The Islami Andolan Bangladesh (IAB) leaders have expressed hope that the ban on Awami League as a political party will be announced at the advisory council meeting set to take place tonight.
Speaking at the Shahbag's mass rally this afternoon, IAB Joint Secretary General Ashraful Alam said, "We never expected we'd have to take to the streets to demand the AL ban. People have already shunned them on 5 August 2024. So, why hasn't the government implemented the people's ruling? Today, there's a meeting of the advisory council, and we hope they will ban the party so that we no longer have to take to the streets."
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National Citizen Party (NCP) and some other political parties and organisations have held their position overnight in Dhaka's Shahbag ahead of a mass rally demanding a ban on the Awami League (AL), which was ousted from power in August last year.
Joining the protest, IAB Secretary General Yunus Ahmad alleged the Awami League has always been a party of terrorism and extortion. "That is why we have repeatedly said they must be banned. They should never be allowed to do politics here again.
"As long as their politics continues in this country, hypocrisy with the nation will persist. The movement must continue until the Awami League is banned. In the meantime, Islami Andolon will remain active on the ground."
The Advisory Council of the interim government is scheduled to take place tonight (10 May), Cabinet Secretary Sheikh Abdur Rashid confirmed the matter to The Business Standard, but he did not comment on the meeting's agenda.
Also present on stage were leaders from the NCP and Hefazat-e-Islam.
A huge number of new protesters gathered at the Shahbag intersection since morning.
NCP Chief Organiser (North region) Sarjis Alam and Chief Organiser (South) Hasnat Abdullah joined the protesters ahead of the rally.
Earlier in the morning, around 100 protesters were seen demonstrating in Shahbag.
No vehicles are being allowed to pass through the intersection. Vehicles are being asked to use alternative routes.
Kazi Amir Hossain Ripon, spokesperson for Warriors of July, a forum formed by the families of the martyrs and injured victims of the July uprising, said, "We were here until 3am. After that, everyone went to rest nearby. We again gathered from 8am to 9am this morning."
"Currently, there are about 100-200 of us here. We hope that this number will increase with time. We expect this place to turn into a sea of people after 3pm," he said in the morning.
A mass rally is scheduled to be held at Shahbag at around 3pm today (10 May), as announced by Hasnat Abdullah, chief organiser (south) of NCP.
Hasnat, in a post from his verified Facebook profile at 3:45am today, also urged everyone not to block any highway other than Shahbag.
"Organise rallies at the district level, but do not hold any blockades," he urged everyone.
Demanding AL's ban, the NCP began their demonstration by staging a sit-in in front of Jamuna, the official residence of Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, on Thursday night (8 May).
As support grew, the party held a mass rally there yesterday after Jummah prayers and later moved to block the busy Shahbag intersection.
By 10pm yesterday, the movement spread across multiple districts, including Chattogram, Rajshahi, Kushtia, Lakshmipur and Rangpur.
In Dhaka, various major points, including Paltan intersection, were blocked by the protesters.
NCP Convener Nahid Islam, in a Facebook post at around 8pm yesterday, warned that all of Bangladesh will march towards Dhaka if the government does not make a decision soon.
In an earlier Facebook post, Nahid announced the three-point demand for the government.
Supporters of Hefazat-e-Islam, Jamaat-e-Islami, Islami Oikya Jote, Islami Chhatra Shibir, Jatiya Ganotantrik Party, UP Bangladesh, July Oikya, Students Against Discrimination (SAD), July Mancha, Inqilab Mancha, and several other political organisations joined the protest.
The NCP also called on the BNP to join the movement.
However, BNP Standing Committee member Abdul Moyeen Khan, talking to reporters at the party chairperson's Gulshan office, said it is not the party's role to determine whether AL should be banned, noting that such a decision lies with the Election Commission and the government.
