'March to Dhaka' announced demanding Hasina's resignation

Ant-discrimination movement leaders on August 4 last year announced 'March to Dhaka' programme for next day (August 5), signalling the ouster of the Hasina-led government as at least 93 people were also killed that day during the student-led non-cooperation movement, reports BSS.

The anti-discrimination student movement leaders had actually declared the 'March to Dhaka' programme for August 6 in the afternoon on August 4 to press home their one-point demand - the resignation of the Hasina-led government.

But the joint crackdown of the then ruling party activists and police on the protesters during the student-led non-cooperation movement across the country that day prompted the movement leaders to reschedule programme for August 5 by bringing back one day.

Addressing the protesters in the capital's Shahbagh around 3:00pm, Nahid Islam, a key coordinator of the movement, had said that Awami League was trying to drive the country into a state of civil war by deploying its activists on the roads.

"Our objectives, goals and destination are clear. Victory alone is our goal. We are still giving time. If the government continues to resort to violence, we want to let them know that we are looking at the Gono Bhaban," Nahid was quoted in a Daily Star report as saying.

"If my brothers are shot in the chest, if any of my sisters are injured, we will not sit idle. Form a Protirodh Sangram Committee (resistance struggle committee) in every neighbourhood, village, mohalla, and alley. Build resistance wherever (we are) attacked," added Nahid, a former adviser of the current interim government and now NCP chief.

He urged students to continue their sit-in at Shahbagh until the government falls.

Besides, the demonstrators brought out a procession with the bodies of victims from Dhaka Medical College Hospital around 6:00 pm. After a brief protest there, they headed towards

Shahbagh through Dhaka University's Teacher-Student Centre.

During the procession, they chanted slogans: 'Amar Bhai Morlo Keno, Sheikh Hasina Jobab Chai', 'Lorai, Lorai, Lorai Chai, Lorai Kore Bachte Chai', and 'Dofa Ek Dabi Ek, Sheikh Hasinar Padatyag'.

However, when the procession was crossing the Shahbagh Police Station, police lobbed stun grenades and teargas shells to disperse the demonstrators, claiming that some protesters threw brickbats at the police station.

Earlier, on August 3, the anti-discrimination movement leaders declared the 15-points non-cooperation movement from August 4 to press their one point demand- the resignation of the Sheikh Hasina-led government.