Hundreds of thousands participated in student protests across Dhaka, Chattogram, and other regions yesterday, with the Central Shaheed Minar in the capital becoming the epicenter of the movement.
From a massive gathering at the Shaheed Minar, the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement coordinators declared their “one-point demand” for the resignation of the current government. They also called for the establishment of an “acceptable and inclusive” national government.
Crowds began to assemble at the Shaheed Minar from 2 pm, swelling to over a thousand students by 2:45 pm. Shortly after, a procession of freedom fighters joined, adding more than a hundred people. By 3:10 pm, a significant number of students from Jhigatala arrived, followed by nearly double that number from Shantinagar and Badda. By 3:45 pm, the surrounding streets were packed with students and supporters.
Rickshaw pullers joined the protests, chanting slogans alongside teachers, musicians, architects, doctors, and other professionals. Parents arrived with their children, many wearing red-green bandanas and carrying flags.
Around 5:30 pm, Nahid Islam, on behalf of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, read a statement highlighting the reasons for their demand:
- Under the current government’s orders, indiscriminate mass killings have occurred, sparing no one—women, children, students, teachers, or workers.
- Instead of prosecuting these atrocities, the government is arbitrarily arresting and torturing students and the public.
- Law enforcement agencies used lethal firearms to carry out these killings.
- Students, teachers, workers, and the general public believe impartial justice and investigation are not possible under this government.
Thus, the movement declared a one-point demand for the resignation of the current autocratic government and the formation of an acceptable and inclusive national government.
Protesters concluded their program around 6 pm, tying red clothes on the faces of the Raju Memorial and Joy Bangla Joy Tarunya Sculptures on their way from Shaheed Minar to Shahbagh. They then gathered at the Shahbagh intersection around 7 pm, chanting slogans.
Despite Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s offer for talks, the students have no plans to meet with the government, according to a coordinator. Reports indicate that the PM has tasked three senior Awami League leaders to communicate with the protest coordinators.
Protests and occasional violence occurred in other areas as well. Students, teachers, and locals protested in Mirpur-10, Basundhara, Shantinagar, and Science Lab areas of Dhaka.
In Mirpur, Basundhara, and Science Lab areas, protests were peaceful, but other regions saw sporadic clashes. A man named Jahangir Alam, 45, died amid clashes between police and protesters in Gazipur’s Sreepur.
In Chattogram, thousands gathered in the New Market area, chanting for justice for their slain classmates. In Narayanganj, protesters blocked roads near the Chashara intersection at around 11:30 am. Students from various institutions started a procession from Chashara Shaheed Minar along Bangabandhu Road towards the No-2 Railway Gate.
In Rajshahi, students and locals blocked the Dhaka-Rajshahi highway at 10 am, chanting slogans with the support of university teachers, lawyers, and professionals.
In Cumilla, at least 30 people were injured, including five with bullet wounds, as Jubo League and Swechchhasebak League activists allegedly attacked protesters near the Police Lines area around 1:30 pm.
