Amid growing demands to ban the Awami League following its ouster during the July uprising, the Shahbagh intersection turned into a major protest zone on Friday as students and citizens continued their blockade for the second day.

The protest, initiated by the National Citizens’ Party (NCP) on Thursday night (May 8), calls for the immediate ban of the Awami League, accusing the party of state-backed violence and authoritarian rule.

As the crowd swelled on Friday (May 9), NCP’s northern organiser Sarjis Alam publicly urged the BNP to join the movement. 

In a post from his verified Facebook page, he said, “All political parties except BNP and its wings are now at Shahbagh. BNP’s presence will restore the unity of July. A united Shahbagh awaits BNP. Today’s Shahbagh is part of history and a benchmark for future politics.”

Earlier in the day, NCP held a public gathering in front of the InterContinental Hotel, from where they announced the Shahbagh blockade. At the rally, NCP’s southern organiser Hasnat Abdullah declared that the protest would continue until the Awami League is officially banned.

At around 4:45 PM, hundreds of demonstrators, including students and members of the public, blocked the key Shahbagh intersection, chanting slogans and holding placards demanding legal action against the former ruling party.

The protest comes amid rising political tension and calls from multiple political parties and civil society groups for the interim government to take firm action against what they describe as “a party responsible for state terror and abuse of power.”

Authorities have yet to make any official statement on the ongoing blockade.

MSK/