Anti-Discrimination Student Movement in Bangladesh Declares Single Demand: Sheikh Hasina Government Resignation

Anti-Discrimination Student Movement Declares Single Demand: Government Resignation

The Anti-Discrimination Student Movement has announced a single-point demand for the resignation of the government. This declaration was made today, Saturday, by movement coordinator Nahid Islam at a mass gathering of thousands at the Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka.

At around 5:30 PM, addressing the assembled crowd through a microphone, Nahid Islam said,
"For the safety of people’s lives and the establishment of justice in society, we have reached a decision on a single-point demand. That demand is the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the fall of this government along with the abolition of fascism."

Nahid further stated,
"The Anti-Discrimination Student Movement will soon announce a united front for a student-citizen uprising by uniting with citizens of all backgrounds, student organizations, and professionals. Through broad discussion, we will present a national framework for the future of Bangladesh."

He added,
"Not only Sheikh Hasina, the entire cabinet and the government must resign. This fascist regime must be dismantled. We want to build a Bangladesh with a political structure where no form of autocracy or fascism can ever return."

Nahid urged the public to join the spontaneous student-citizen uprising that has begun, calling on people to organize in neighborhoods and communities. He also announced the beginning of a nationwide non-cooperation movement from Sunday.

Students had launched a continuous protest from July 1 demanding reform in the government job quota system. On July 16, six people were killed in clashes, which intensified the movement. Since then, a total of 216 people have been killed, and many more injured in subsequent conflicts.

Previously, the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement had issued nine demands regarding the killings and injuries. Now, they are presenting a single demand. At today's rally, at least six movement coordinators were present in the front row. These included Nahid Islam, Sarjis Alam, Hasnat Abdullah, Asif Mahmud, Abu Bakar Mojumdar, and Abdul Kader. Among them, Nahid and two others addressed the crowd.

The movement also organized nationwide protest rallies today. From tomorrow (Sunday), they are calling for a full-scale civil disobedience movement. To participate in today's program, students and general citizens gathered at Shaheed Minar from different parts of the capital. According to three reporters from Prothom Alo present at the scene, people began assembling at Shaheed Minar from around 2:30 PM. As time passed, the crowd swelled to the point that there was no space left to stand in the Shaheed Minar area and its surroundings.

Beyond Shaheed Minar, students and citizens also gathered in various other parts of Dhaka. Clashes were reported in several districts outside Dhaka, with demonstrations held in various locations across the country.

Earlier in the morning, it was learned that leaders from the Awami League and the 14-party alliance expressed a willingness to sit for discussions with the coordinators of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement. The Awami League designated three individuals for this task: Presidium member Jahangir Kabir Nanak, and Joint General Secretaries A.F.M. Bahauddin Nasim and Mahbubul Alam Hanif.

Party sources also mentioned that Rashed Khan Menon, President of the Workers Party of Bangladesh, and Hasanul Haq Inu, President of JSD (Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal), have been invited to be part of the discussions.

When asked, Mahbubul Alam Hanif told Prothom Alo, "We haven't yet made contact with the coordinators, but we will."

However, Anti-Discrimination Student Movement coordinator Abu Bakar Mojumdar told Prothom Alo,
"There is no room for dialogue anymore. The decision will come from the streets."