The Awami League had announced a ‘March to Dhanmondi 32’ program to pay tribute to the portrait of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. However, in an effort to prevent this program, student protesters took control of the area surrounding Dhanmondi 32 from midnight on Wednesday, August 14.
On Thursday, August 15, students from various universities gathered on Dhanmondi 32 Road, and no central leaders of the Awami League were seen at the location.
On Thursday morning, it was observed that the student protesters had surrounded the Dhanmondi 32 residence. The students stated, “We have been here since the morning. If anyone tries to take away our hard-earned independence, we will resist. If someone attempts to offer flowers to Bangabandhu’s portrait under the guise of being associated with the Awami League, they are being removed.”
On August 5, facing a mass uprising, Sheikh Hasina resigned from the position of Prime Minister and left the country. Following this, most Awami League leaders went into hiding. Several former ministers, state ministers, and Awami League leaders have already been arrested by law enforcement agencies.
At Dhanmondi 32, the protesters were seen chanting slogans against Sheikh Hasina and the recently ousted Awami League government. They held Sheikh Hasina responsible for recent killings during the movement and demanded her trial.
In previous years, the Awami League government observed August 15 as National Mourning Day, and it was a public holiday. However, the interim government recently canceled the public holiday for August 15.