Awami League leaders and activists of several units of the Dhaka Metropolitan Unit paraded the streets from early morning on Monday, on the first day of the partyโs monthlong programme, demanding the resignation of the fascist Yunus-led government.
Members of the banned Awami League, Krishak League, Jubo League and Chhatra League participated in the processions.
Around 7am, a protest march took place in the College Gate area of Mohammadpur, defying the interim government’s ban on its activities.
The mainstream media continued ignoring the Awami League’s statements and protest marches on Monday.
Party leaders and activists also held processions in Shahbagh, Katabon, Kamrangirchar and Kadamtali of Dhaka, and Manikganj, Rajshahi and Chittagong outside Dhaka.
They chanted โJoy Bangla, Joy Bangabandhuโ and other slogans demanding the resignation of the Muhammad Yunus-led illegal government and stopping the farcical trial of the Awami League leaders at the International Crimes Tribunal.
Earlier, police arrested 11 activists from a brief procession brought out in Dhakaโs Gulistan on May 18. On the same day, leaders and activists held flash marches in at least four other places in the capital. These marches were held in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Shahjahanpur, Airport and Ramna police station areas.
Police launched drives to arrest those who participated in these marches and conducted mass arrests.
Awami League President and five-time Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has asked the party members to wage an all-out movement to topple the Yunus-led illegal government.
The latest programme was declared on June 13.
On June 23, a virtual discussion meeting will be held on the occasion of the founding anniversary of the Awami League. In addition, humanitarian activities, including distribution of food and clothes among the helpless and distressed people, will be conducted.
Protests will be held in divisional cities across the country on June 24, at all organisational district levels on July 1, and upazila and union levels on July 16.
Brutality continues
Sheikh Hasina recently said that Awami League leaders and activists are being arrested, sued, and having their homes looted. The police are failing to act against killers and looters, instead targeting Awami League members.
Sheikh Hasina said at least 137,000 Awami League leaders, activists, journalists, intellectuals, professionals, and freedom fighters are currently imprisoned. Approximately 80,000 cases have been filed, a โworld recordโ by Yunus.
On the other hand, Yunus has released listed terrorists and militants from jail.
Human rights organisation Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) has revealed that 172 people were killed in lynchings across the country from August last year till May 31 this year, mostly Awami League leaders and activists.
Moreover, at least 25 Awami League leaders and activists have died in prison custody under suspicious and brutal circumstances.
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