Protesters demanding the banning of the Awami League have called for a "March to Jamuna" unless the interim government presents a clear roadmap within one hour.
Hasnat Abdullah, chief organizer (south) of the NCP and a key leader of the student-led uprising that toppled the Awami League regime, made the announcement from Shahbagh around 8:45pm Saturday.
This announcement follows the second day of the Shahbagh blockade, led by the National Citizen Party (NCP).
The protesters have blockaded the road from Banglamotor to Shahbagh, with the Intercontinental Hotel intersection serving as the central point.
Hasnat said: "We will announce a march to Jamuna if we do not receive a clear roadmap on the Awami League ban within the next hour."
He further confirmed that a meeting of advisers would take place at 8pm on Saturday.
"For now, we will not proceed to Jamuna. Considering the situation, we will head toward Jamuna only if necessary," Hasnat added.
Saturday's mass gathering at Shahbagh, which began around 3pm, was centered on three demands: the banning of the Awami League, the issuance of the July Declaration, and the implementation of necessary legal provisions for the trial of the Awami League at the International Criminal Tribunal.
The rally was joined by leaders and activists from various political parties.
Over recent months, protests against the Awami League have been led by two major blocs calling for the party's ban.
The first bloc consists of post-July uprising groups, including the NCP, United Peoples' Bangladesh (an emerging pressure group), Bangladesh Democratic Student Council, and the "July Unity" coalition, which includes over 50 organizations such as Inquilab Manch, Anti-Fascist Coalition, and July Manch.
The second bloc is made up of Islamist organizations, including Jamaat-e-Islami, Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir, Islamic Movement Bangladesh, Islamic Student Movement Bangladesh, and Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh.
Around 11pm on Friday, Hasnat informed journalists that the blockade would continue until the three demands were met.
He also announced a mass gathering at Shahbagh on Saturday, vowing to continue the sit-in until the Awami League is banned.
The blockade from Friday continued throughout the night and into Saturday morning.