In a charged video message circulated widely on social media, Awami League leader Sajeeb Wazed Joy, son of exiled former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, issued a fervent appeal to Bangladeshis to observe a complete lockdown in Dhaka on November 13, framing it as a critical stand against the interim government led by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus.
Joy’s call comes amid heightened political friction, with authorities bracing for potential unrest through large-scale security drills and vows to arrest participants.
Joy, speaking from exile, began his approximately two-minute address with traditional greetings before launching into a scathing critique of the Yunus administration, which he described as an “illegal” regime that seized power through undemocratic means. He accused the government of dismantling Bangladesh’s economy, eroding law and order, and releasing militants previously imprisoned under Awami League rule.
“In the last one and a half years, they have destroyed our economy. In the last one and a half years, there is no law and order in Bangladesh,” Joy stated, alleging efforts to “erase the spirit of independence” and hand the nation over to “Jamaati Razakars.”
Joy urged widespread participation to demonstrate public discontent and pressure the government.
“You have to make the Dhaka blockade a success. My request to you is that none of you, even if they are trying to force themselves, should go to work. Students will not go to classes in schools and colleges. Keep shops, buses, and rickshaws closed,” he implored.
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Emphasising safety in collective action, he added, “They are trying to suppress them with force. But there is nothing to fear. If you stay at home, they will not be able to do anything to you. This is the way to save the country now.”
Joy also extended a direct appeal to law enforcement personnel, portraying the government as one that has failed to deliver justice for slain officers and activists. “This government is illegal, completely illegal. These terrorists have killed the police… You should not torture our leaders and activists. We will remove this government,” he declared, invoking the spirit of the 1971 Liberation War: “We fought and won the 71 movement. We will succeed in this movement. We all want your cooperation. We have to stand together to save Bangladesh. Joy Bangla.”
Sheikh Hasina Echoes the Call
On Sunday, Sheikh Hasina spoke at a virtual programme and explicitly endorsed the โDhaka Lockdown,โ framing it as a pivotal step toward restoring democracy. In the speech, circulated via Awami League channels and social media, Sheikh Hasina condemned the interim government’s violent response to a teachers’ protest in Dhaka’s Shahbagh area the same day, where police fired on demonstrators, injuring 19 and arresting 56, including the association’s leader.
“We strongly condemn and express disgust at this tyranny. Those who fired the shots must be punishedโฆ The arrested teachers must be released immediately,” Sheikh Hasina stated, linking the incident to a broader pattern of “brutal oppression” under Yunus’s watch. She accused the regime of enabling atrocities, from enforced disappearances to massacres, and providing indemnity to perpetrators affiliated with banned Islamist groups like Jamaat-e-Islami.
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Sheikh Hasina’s rhetoric mirrored Joy’s in portraying the Yunus administration as illegitimate and destructive: “Yunus has taken the country to the last stage. We must restore democracyโฆ Yunus must be removed.” She urged supporters to enforce the lockdown through unified action, calling for the recovery of illegal weapons and resistance in key areas, while appealing to security forces to act on conscience rather than orders.
“Everyone must remain unitedโฆ Inshallah, the people will winโฆ Only the Awami League can improve this country,” she affirmed, defending her party’s legacy in achieving economic progress and global standing.
The address also rejected ongoing trials against her and Awami League figures as a “sham,” demanding the withdrawal of cases against party members, including minors, and halting proceedings against military personnel.
The โDhaka Lockdownโ initiative follows a series of Awami League announcements via online platforms, signalling a shift toward non-violent but disruptive protests despite the party’s proscription. It coincides with the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT-BD) judgment in Hasina’s trial in absentia, adding layers of tension.
In response, Bangladesh’s Home Ministry has ordered arrests for anyone participating in the program and deployed enhanced security at 142 key sites in Dhaka. Police conducted a “mega drill” across the capital on November 9, simulating responses to unrest. Rival groups, including BNP allies and student organisations, have vowed to counter any Awami League attempts at disruption, warning that the lockdown “will only exist online.”
As Bangladesh navigates economic fragility and political polarisation 15 months after Sheikh Hasina’s ouster, the success or failure of the November 13 action could further polarise the nation, testing the resolve of both protesters and authorities.
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