From the Shahidi March (procession for the martyrs), the coordinators of the Anti-Discrimination Students movement (ADS) have announced five-point demands including unveiling a roadmap to reform the state immediately.
Several thousand students on Thursday renewed their pledge to build a discrimination free Bangladesh. The Anti-Discrimination Student Movement brought out the ‘Shaheedi March’ to mark one month of the fall of the Sheikh Hasina regime.
From the Shahidi March, the coordinators of the Anti-Discrimination Students movement (ADS) announced five-point demands. The demands are to arrest all the culprits who were involved in committing genocide, to provide economic and legal support to the families of the victims as soon as possible, to mark the corrupted and fascist in the administrative sectors, and bring them to the justice, to declare the ‘Ganabhaban’ (the resident of the prime minister) as the ‘July-Memorial Museum’ and to quickly announce the roadmap of the state reformation.
Students from various institutions, including Dhaka University, gathered at the Raju Memorial Sculpture and brought out a mammoth procession.
While parading the city roads, they chanted slogans in the name of the martyred students, including Abu Sayeed, Mir Mahfuzur Rahman Mugdha along with others who embraced the martyrdom during the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement.
Apart from the capital, the students and people from various walks of life across the country also observed the ‘Shahidi March,’ commemorating those killed in July and August.
Dhaka: As planned, several thousand participants, including students from Dhaka University (DU) and other institutions, gathered at the Raju Memorial Sculpture on the DU campus at around 2:30pm.
The crowd, carrying national flags, banners, placards, and festoons, depicted the tumultuous events of July and August.
They chanted slogans like “Abu Sayed, Mughdo, the war is not over,” “We don’t fear death in the remembrance of the martyrs,” and “The blood of the martyrs is our strength,” the marchers expressed their determination to honour the fallen.
The procession began at 4:00 pm, starting from the Raju Memorial Sculpture and moving through key points in the city, including Nilkhet, New Market, Kalabagan, Dhanmondi, Manik Mia Avenue, Farmgate, Karwan Bazar, Bangla Motor, and Shahbagh, before concluding at the Central Shaheed Minar.
Mohammad Sohel Mia, a student from Uttara, shared his deep regret for missing the August 3 event as he was in Sylhet, saying, “I’ll regret it my whole life, but today, I’m here at the Shahidi March to ease that regret. We are ready to shed our blood again if needed, but we won’t let this freedom go to waste.”
Masurn Hossein, a madrasa student from Jatrabari, joined the rally with a flag tied to his head. He recalled his involvement in the movement, saying, “We fought for this freedom with our blood and lives. Now, we can speak freely and participate in public events without fear.”
Barishal: Under the banner of the anti-discrimination student movement, students from schools, colleges, madrasas, and people from various walks of life participated in the Shahidi March program in Barishal. The march started at 12:30 PM from Barisal Government Brojomohun (BM) College, circled key streets of the city, and ended at the Central Shaheed Minar.
Shariatpur: Students brought out a procession from Shariatpur Government College. The procession marched the main road and ended at the Central Shaheed Minar. A one-minute silence was observed there in memory of the deceased.
Sunamganj: Students from the anti-discrimination student movement of various schools and colleges in Sunamganj marched from Hossain Bakht Square, circled the city, and gathered for a street rally at Traffic Point.
Sylhet: General students organised a Shahidi March under the banner of the anti-discrimination student movement in the district.
The Shahidi March began at the Central Shaheed Minar in Sylhet, passing through Zindabazar and Bandar Bazar areas of the city.
Speakers at the rally said the country needs to be built properly and that people must stand up against irregularities and corruption wherever they see it. “We must call a spade a spade,” they added.
Rangamati: Students brought out Shahidi March and formed a human chain in Rangamati. The march began at 11:00am from Rangamati Municipality and concluded in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office, followed by an hour-long human chain.
Present students observed a minute of silence in memory of those killed in the anti-discrimination student movement in August and shared their memories of the deceased.
Chuadanga: In observance of the Shahidi March of the anti-discrimination student movement in Chuadanga, a protest march was organised. The march circled the city’s main road and ended at the same place. Students held placards and chanted various slogans.
Pabna: Members of the anti-discrimination student movement in Pabna observed the Shahidi March program. On Thursday, a march and rally were held in the district. The march started from Edward College ground and circled the city’s key streets, ending at Shaheed Square at Zero Point.
Kishoreganj: The anti-discrimination student movement in Kishoreganj organised a Shahidi March program. On Thursday afternoon, students held a rally at Gurudayal Government College grounds as part of the central schedule of events.
The rally, organized by the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, had been announced on Wednesday during a press conference at the TSC of Dhaka University.
