Shahbag blockade a united movement of all; new programmes to be held under 'Anti-Fascist National Unity' banner: Hasnat
"We call upon students and citizens across Dhaka and the entire country — let us unite in the spirit of July. Our goal is one and the same. All pro-uprising opinions and parties will continue the movement together until AL is banned," the NCP chief organiser (south region) wrote in the post
Shahbag blockade does not belong to any single party or ideology, said National Citizen Party (NCP) Chief Organiser (South region) Hasnat Abdullah.
"Students and citizens from all sectors of Bangladesh, along with political, social, and cultural organisations, have united in demanding a ban on the Awami League," he wrote in a post addressing the countrymen from his verified Facebook profile today (10 May).
In the post, Hasnat announced that all programmes from now on will be conducted under the banner of "Anti-Fascist National Unity" based on everyone's concern.
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"Over the past two days, there have been attempts from various quarters to question this movement. Efforts are being made to make the movement controversial and divided," reads the post.
"We call upon students and citizens across Dhaka and the entire country — let us unite in the spirit of July. Our goal is one and the same. All pro-uprising opinions and parties will continue the movement together until AL is banned," Hasnat wrote in the post.
"July is not over yet. The forces of the mass uprising will remain united on the question of banning AL, Insha'Allah," he added.
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 had spread across multiple districts, including Chattogram, Rajshahi, Kushtia, Lakshmipur, and Rangpur.
In Dhaka, protesters blocked various major points, including the Paltan intersection.
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.
Meanwhile, the blockade at Shahbag by NCP and other political parties and organisations continued overnight and is still going on, with a mass rally scheduled to be held at Shahbag at around 3pm today.
