Mass processions grip capital Dhaka, clashes reported

Mass processions grip capital Dhaka, clashes reported

Dhaka, Aug 02 - Thousands of demonstrators under ‘Anti-Discrimination Student Movement’ took to streets in different parts of the capital braving rains to protest the recent  killings of students, citizens, arrests, and oppression.

As part of Anti-Discrimination Student Movement’ prayers and mass procession programme, hundreds  of students from different educational institutions   brought out processions, turning the capital into city of processions.  They were joined by teachers and cultural activists.

Thousands have gathered at Shahbagh and the National Press Club in response to students' call to continue protest against the mass killings and arrests.

Following the Juma prayers on Friday at Baitul Mukarram Mosque, people marched toward Shahbagh via Paltan, Press Club and Matsya Bhaban.

Students occupied roads at Uttara, Science Lab intersection, Badda, Rampura, Aftabnagar, Shahbagh to stage protests.

Hundreds of students took positions at  Science Lab intersection around 1 pm and staged demonstration protesting the recent killings and demanding  justice.

A huge number of police were seen deployed in the area with prison vans.

Students brought out a procession and rally in front of Rajuk Uttara Model College inUttara at 10am on Friday as part of the programme  of the anti-discrimination student movement.

They were joined by teachers and guardians of different levels of the college. Traffic on the road in front of the college was stopped due to the two-hour protest.

Artists under the platform  "Artists Against Genocide and Oppression" held a rally in Dhanmodi area in the capital on Thursday morning.

They chanted slogans demanding  justice for the killings in front of the Abahani Field on Sat Masjid Road. 

They demanded stopping repression, mass arrests, bringing relief to public life by lifting curfew and resignation of the government accepting responsibility for all the killings.

Speakers at the rally said, they think it is the duty of the artist community to stand against the ongoing state injustice, and oppression.

The Anti-Discrimination Students’ Movement on Thursday announced a nationwide prayers and mass procession for Friday to press home their 9-point demand.

The programme was announced in a press release sent by Abdul Kader, a coordinator of the movement.

The campaign is being organised in memory of all those who were martyred, injured, arrested, or participated in the movement, it reads.

UNB correspondents from Barishal, Khulna and Chattogramm reported that people staged demonstration and brought out processions in different areas.