Protesters block Dhaka-Aricha Highway in Savar demanding AL ban

Local leaders, activists and supporters of the National Citizen Party (NCP), Students Against Discrimination (SAD) and others blocked the Dhaka-Aricha Highway in Savar, Dhaka, for nearly two hours today (9 May) demanding a ban on the Awami League.

At around 9:30pm, protesters began their demonstration at the Pakija intersection on the Dhaka-Aricha highway in Savar, which was named Shaheed Yameen Chattar by students and the public after 5 August, by first blocking the Aricha-bound lane of the highway and later the Dhaka-bound lane, our correspondent reported from the spot.

The blockade was lifted at around 11:20pm after members of armed forces arrived at the intersection and issued an ultimatum to the protesters to leave the area.

The protesters announced that they will again block the intersection tomorrow at 3pm, to press home their demand.

Asadul Islam Mukul, a member of the central committee of NCP, who was present at the protest, earlier told The Business Standard, "On 5 August, the people of Bangladesh decided that no other political party like Awami League will be able to do politics in this country in Bangladesh. But we can see that even after 10 months, those who are currently in government are not taking any decision regarding the Awami League. Due to this, we have been attacked or attacked in various ways in about 34 to 35 places in Bangladesh.

"Awami League men, despite having so many cases against them, are not being arrested; they are roaming around openly. From that point, we want to say how the current government will ban the Awami League, whether through a direct announcement or through the High Court, it is their business. But until this decision is made, this highway will remain closed. In solidarity with our blockade programme in Shahbagh, we, the people of Savar and Ashulia, have blocked the roads here, and until the Awami League is banned, we will remain here."