Dhaka’s Shahbagh intersection has been under blockade since Thursday morning as the July Warriors Council, a platform of families of those killed or injured in the recent July uprising, demands swift implementation of the July proclamation and charter.
The protest got going around 11 a.m., and it didn’t take long for it to completely choke off traffic in and around Shahbagh. For hours, people were just stuck, as police tried to funnel cars down side roads past Katabon and the InterContinental.
Later in the afternoon, the demonstrators gave a little, clearing the pavements so at least pedestrians and motorbikes could get by.
On Friday, protesters returned despite heavy rain, setting up barricades around the intersection under the banner “Families of July Martyrs and July Warriors (Injured).”
Arman Shafin, convener of the July Warriors Council, said the sit-in would continue until the government offered a clear response.
“We, the families of martyrs and July warriors from all 64 districts, have come here with our own food and essentials. We will stay until our demands are met,” he said.
Masud Rana Sourav, one of the movement’s organizers, said there had been no contact from the government.
“Our decision is final. Even if it costs us our lives, we will not leave Shahbagh without the July charter,” he said.
Also Read: Shahbagh Blockade: Protesters Demand July Charter in Bangladesh Constitution
List of Demands
Protesters presented a detailed set of demands:
- Official recognition of July martyrs and wounded fighters
- Lifelong honor, state-guaranteed healthcare, and education for affected families
- Government support for treatment, rehabilitation, employment, and welfare of the injured
- Lifetime honorable allowances for both the injured and martyrs’ families
- Establishment of special legal aid and protection centers
- Prosecution of those responsible for repression under international standards
- Formation of an independent commission for truth and justice
The protesters are playing the long game here, deliberately grinding things to a halt. Forget negotiating—their minds are made up.
Their thinking is that by being a stubborn wall, they can back the city into a corner and make them do something. The end game is obvious—no tangible action, no end to the protest.
