Photo: Habibur Rahman
The Anti-Discrimination Student Movement has announced a one-point demand for the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her cabinet. The announcement was made by the movement's coordinator, Md. Nahid Islam, at Dhaka's Central Shaheed Minar on Saturday (3 August) at 5:30 PM, where he also declared the launch of a nationwide non-cooperation movement starting from Sunday (4 August).
Addressing the assembled students and the general public, Nahid stated, "What more justice can we seek from them? They are the murderers. We were taken to the DB office and only released due to your movement. Even today, shots were fired. In this situation, we are declaring a one-point demand. Sheikh Hasina has said that the doors for dialogue are open, but she has already realized that it's time to keep the doors open. We are coming. She must resign and be held accountable for the killings. Not just Sheikh Hasina, but all ministers must resign."
He further added, "Our one-point demand is the resignation of Sheikh Hasina and the prosecution of this government's corruption and plunder. We will break open the prison doors and bring our brothers out. Everyone should join this uprising. We will form a united front after consulting with everyone and announce a blueprint for our country. From tomorrow, there will be a non-cooperation movement everywhere."
The coordinator also stated that they will not accept any internet shutdown or imposition of curfews. He urged the students and the public to advance peacefully in the non-cooperation movement. "If the government stands against the people, the people will not accept it. If weapons are used, there will be resistance. We will seek justice for all massacres on the soil of Bengal." He called upon all sections of the population to make the non-cooperation movement declared by the students a success.
Earlier, students and ordinary citizens from various parts of the capital gathered at Shaheed Minar, joining in from different protest marches. Teachers and people from various walks of life also joined them. The massive gathering overflowed the Shaheed Minar area, spreading to Chankharpul intersection, Doel Chattar, Jagannath Hall intersection, and up to Dhaka University's Sheikh Russell Tower.
The Anti-Discrimination Student Movement had announced new programs on Friday (2 August), calling for peaceful protests across the country against the attacks and killings during student-citizen protests, and issuing a nine-point demand. Today, they called for protest marches across the country.
Messenger/Shahed
