Hasnat Abdullah, a key coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, has issued an ultimatum with five demands, including the resignation of President Mohammed Shahabuddin.
Several other platforms have also organized protest rallies, calling for the president’s resignation.
Members of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and the Jatiya Nagorik Committee held a demonstration at the Central Shaheed Minar yesterday afternoon, demanding the president step down by tomorrow. Another coordinator, Abdul Hannan Masud, echoed this demand during the event.
The coordinators accused the president of attempting to confuse the public regarding the resignation of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Their demands also include amending the constitution by revoking the 1972 version, banning the Chhatra League, Juba League, and Awami League, and declaring the July uprising as the Proclamation of the Republic. They further demanded that the three general elections held since 2014 be declared illegal, with the assets of those elected in these elections confiscated. They insist legal measures be taken to prevent these former members of parliament from running in future elections.
The rally began around 3:30pm with protesters calling for the president’s resignation, saying: “Your time is up, and the students no longer want you as president. Either you resign, or the students will surround Bangabhaban and force you to flee like Hasina. The allies of dictatorship must be removed from power.”
They emphasized that the students’ movement would continue until a new Bangladesh is formed and a new constitution is drafted. Leaders of the Jatiya Nagorik Committee urged the interim government to begin drafting a new constitution within the next month.
Hasnat Abdullah declared that the students had made their decision the day the Chhatra League and Jubo League attacked them, vowing that these "terrorist organizations" would have no place in Bangladesh.
Addressing Chhatra League members active on social media, Hasnat said: “What will scare us? We uprooted you from the soil of this country. Your 'Mother of Terror,' Sheikh Hasina, has fled the country, leaving you behind. She will be brought back to Bangladesh to face trial.”
Nasir Uddin Patwary, convener of the Jatiya Nagorik Committee, warned that if the 1972 constitution is not repealed and a new one is not formulated, the platform will launch a stronger movement. Coordinator Sarjis Alam also harshly criticized President Shahabuddin, saying he would eventually flee the country as Sheikh Hasina had done.
Meanwhile, a group of protesters demonstrated in front of Bangabhaban yesterday, demanding the removal of President Mohammed Shahabuddin. Protesters under the banner of the Shadhinota-Shorbobhoumotto Rokkha Committee began their march towards Bangabhaban from the Raju Sculpture at Dhaka University at noon.
They encountered police resistance near the High Court Mazar intersection but managed to advance to Bangabhaban. They attempted to stage a sit-in inside the compound but were stopped by law enforcement.
The demonstrators then held a rally outside Bangabhaban, delivering speeches for half an hour. They announced that if their demands are not met, they will gather near Bangabhaban again at 4pm today.
Another group, Raktim July 24, advocating for the welfare of families affected by the recent mass uprising, held a separate sit-in with some injured victims, showing solidarity with the demand for the president’s removal.
In response to these gatherings, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) increased security around Bangabhaban. A significant number of police officers, army armored personnel carriers (APCs), and water cannons were stationed outside Bangabhaban throughout the day.
Md Shahriar Ali, Deputy Commissioner (DC) of the Motijheel division, said: “We are on alert. Some protesters with two or three banners are demonstrating here. We have not stopped them, but we are vigilant to ensure no incidents occur.”
In Rangpur, students protested yesterday, demanding the president’s resignation and a ban on the Awami League.
Students organized a procession in front of the main gate of Begum Rokeya University at 11pm under the banner of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement. In Barisal, a procession was held at noon under the same banner, with students staging a protest rally on Sadar Road in front of Ashini Kumar Hall, also demanding the president’s resignation.
On Monday, Hasnat Abdullah shared a poster on Facebook announcing yesterday’s mass gathering following the president’s remarks on the resignation of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
In a recent interview with Matiur Rahman Chowdhury, editor of The Daily Manab Zamin, President Mohammed Shahabuddin said that he had heard about Sheikh Hasina’s resignation as prime minister but had no documentary evidence, such as a resignation letter, to confirm it. This conversation was published in the newspaper's political magazine, Janatar Chokh, on Sunday.
Sheikh Hasina sought refuge in India on August 5 amid an unprecedented mass uprising.
