Road blockade at Shahbagh despite extreme heat, city residents suffer

Despite the scorching sun and intense heat, protests continue in Shahbagh of Dhaka, demanding the banning of the Awami League and punishment against the party under three specific demands. The Shahbagh intersection and surrounding areas are filled with slogans and protesters.

Protesters have been chanting slogans like “Ban Ban, Awami League Ban” and “Abu Sayeed Mugdha, the war is not over yet' since Saturday morning (May 10). Leaders and activists from various groups, including the National Citizen Party (NCP), Islami Chhatra Shibir, and United Peoples Bangladesh (UP Bangladesh), have joined the rally. A group of students from Dhaka University has also taken part under the banner of general students.

However, the road blockade has caused serious trouble for city dwellers. Passengers on buses were seen suffering in long traffic jams from Katabon to Shahbagh.

One commuter told Views Bangladesh, “If they keep blocking roads like this, how will we get to work? Or are the protesters going to come to our homes and feed us twice a day?”

Israt Jahan, a student of Holy Cross College, said, “I usually use the Shahbagh road to go to my coaching class. If it’s blocked, I have to take a long detour, which causes a lot of inconvenience.”

Harish, who brought a patient to the hospital, said, “I came from Munshiganj with my wife for treatment. The blockade has been going on since morning. No rickshaw or van drivers want to go anywhere. Even if they agree, they’re asking for double the fare.”

The “Shahbagh Blockade Program,” which started on Friday (May 9) around 4:45pm, has three main demands: to declare the Awami League a terrorist organization and ban it, include a provision in the International Crimes Tribunal Act for prosecuting the party as a group, and to issue a “July Declaration.” NCP’s chief organizer for the southern region, Hasnat Abdullah, announced that the protest will continue until the Awami League is officially banned through a government order.