'I chased off Hasina. I am very happy'

FE Team | Published: August 06, 2025 00:11:54

An animation of deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina can be seen on the screen. In front of it, a treadmill has been set up. People take turns running on the treadmill as the cartoon of the former ruler flees.
A second later, the words "Hasina does not run" flashed across the screen. As the crowd takes turns, they chant: "Catch Hasina, the vote thief!", reports bdnews24.com.
The installation is part of a live event at Dhaka's Manik Mia Avenue on Tuesday to mark the first anniversary of the July Uprising. The application is titled "Punish the autocratic murderer Sheikh Hasina and her cronies".
Next to the treadmill stands an effigy of the Awami League leader. Many gathered there to take photos. "I chased off Hasina. I am very happy," said Maulana Mohammad Zubair, who had just stepped off the treadmill.
"I wanted to chase her off on Aug 5, but she ran away before we could." He says he is satisfied to finally fulfil that dream.
Nearby, Fahmid Hossain, a college student from Dhaka, posed beside the effigy. "Sheikh Hasina used to boast - 'Sheikh Hasina does not run away.' Now she really has run away," he said. "She will never be found again. I thought I would take a picture with her effigy."
The day-long event features several performances and exhibitions to commemorate the fall of the Awami League government in the face of a 36-day student-led mass uprising.
The "July 36" celebrations began at 12:10pm with a performance by cultural group Saimum Shilpigosthi.
Bands including Artcell, Warfaze, and Shunno are scheduled to perform later in the day. Other events include a reading of the July Proclamation and a special drone performance.