Shahbagh Blocked as Protesters Demand Awami League Ban

Protesters block the Shahbagh intersection in Dhaka on May 9, 2025, calling for a ban on the Awami League.

On Friday afternoon, protesters blocked the Shahbagh intersection in Dhaka, demanding the ban of the Bangladesh Awami League.

The protest was led by Hasnat Abdullah, a leader of the National Citizen Party (NCP), who had earlier announced the blockade from a stage set up near the Chief Adviser’s residence. Following the announcement, protesters gathered and marched towards Shahbagh, where they set up their blockade.

At 4:35 pm, Abdullah addressed the crowd, saying, "The future of Bangladesh begins when the country is free from the influence of the Awami League. Since our calls have not been heard by the interim government, we are now forced to take action. We will remain here until the government issues a gazette banning the Awami League. This marks the beginning of our second phase of uprising."

The protests began earlier in the day, following Juma prayers, when a stage was set up near the fountain by Jamuna, close to the Chief Adviser’s residence. There, Abdullah made the announcement about the blockade and rallied his supporters.

The night before, Abdullah and activists from the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and NCP had initiated a sit-in outside the Chief Adviser’s residence. By 1:00 am, other groups joined the protest, including members of Hefazat-e-Islam, the AB Party, and Islami Chhatra Shibir.

In the morning, Jamaat-e-Islami supporters arrived, and at 8:30 am, Abdullah and NCP leaders, including Nasiruddin Patwari, announced plans for a large rally after the Juma prayers in front of the fountain. The protests were set to continue as their demand for a ban on the Awami League gained momentum.