Shahbagh blockade enters 2nd day amid July charter demands

Protesters under the banner of 'July Warriors' continued their demonstration for a second consecutive day at the Shahbagh intersection on Friday, demanding the immediate finalisation of the proposed July charter.

According to Khalid Mansur, officer-in-charge of Shahbagh Police Station, some demonstrators stayed overnight at the site, while others joined in early Friday morning.

Despite intermittent rain, around 100 protesters maintained the blockade, disrupting traffic in one of Dhaka’s busiest areas. No buses or other vehicles were allowed to pass, and traffic was diverted to alternative routes, the OC said.

The protest began around 11:00 am on Thursday, causing severe congestion in the surrounding areas. Many commuters were stranded for hours, with some forced to walk long distances to reach their destinations.

However, Friday’s disruption was comparatively less severe as it coincided with a public holiday, the OC added.