As part of the 'Non-Cooperation Movement' initiated by the Anti-discrimination Student Movement, several thousand students, teachers, guardians, and members of the civil society staged a demonstration on the Dhaka-Aricha highway in front of Jahangirnagar University's (JU) main gate on Sunday.
They pressed for their single-point demand- the immediate resignation of the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina-led government.
Besides, upon expiry of their 24-hour ultimatum, the students reopened at least six residential halls by breaking the locks themselves after the gather, though it remained uncertain whether they would stay overnight in the dormitories.
Sources said the students gathered at JU Shahid Minar at 11:00pm before marching towards the Dhaka-Aricha highway.
The demonstrators also included students from schools, colleges, other universities, and individuals from various professions.
During this time, traffic on the Dhaka-Aricha highway was halted, allowing emergency services, including ambulances, to continue.
The blockade continued until 4 pm, with thousands of students and local residents protesting on both lanes of the highway.
During the protest march, students chanted slogans such as "One, two, three, four; Sheikh Hasina, leave the throne," "Wakened, wakened, civilians awakened," "One point, one demand, Sheikh Hasina's resignation," and "My brother is dead, we want answers from Sheikh Hasina."
Ahsan Labib, a coordinator of the movement at JU, stated, "We have taken to streets with one demand. We will not return home until the fall of the dictatorship. Gonobhaban (the PM's residence) is a people's asset, where tyrants will not reside. We have started a new liberation war to liberate the people and request everyone to join us on the streets."
Another coordinator, Towhid Mohammad Siam, said, "At least 20,000 people have gathered in Jahangirnagar today. I see the impression of liberation in everyone's eyes. The victory of the students is certain."
