The demonstration, organized by Jatiyatabadee Chhatra Dal (JCD) to demand justice for the killing of student leader Shahriar Alam Shammo, has resulted in a complete halt of traffic through Shahbagh and severe congestion on surrounding roads, causing significant public inconvenience.
For over five hours, members of the student political group Chhatra Dal have been staging a sit-in at the Shahbagh intersection in Dhaka, extending up to the area in front of Hotel Intercontinental.
The protest began around 10:00 AM on Thursday, when over a hundred Chhatra Dal activists, led by the organization’s central president Rakibul Islam, gathered at Shahbagh.
Shortly afterward, more members joined the protest near Hotel Intercontinental. Protesters had started assembling from around 9:30 AM.
As of 3:30 PM, the sit-in had continued for more than five hours. Chhatra Dal leaders announced that the protest would continue until 5:00 PM.
Activists from various branches of the organization are continuing to arrive at the site to join the demonstration.
The protest has caused major traffic disruption in the Shahbagh area and nearby roads.
Chhatra Dal’s general secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir stated that although a few suspects have been shown as arrested in connection with Shahriar Alam’s killing, the actual perpetrators have not been detained.
He also held university authorities, including the vice-chancellor and proctor, accountable and demanded their resignation.
President Rakibul Islam added that no visible progress or assurance regarding justice for the killing has been seen so far, and accused the administration of playing a "hide-and-seek" game with them.
Previously, university authorities announced the detention of three suspects in the case, but failed to confirm their identities, raising doubts among protest leaders about the seriousness and clarity of the investigation.
The sit-in was declared to protest the alleged negligence in the investigation, demand the arrest of the main culprits, and call for exemplary punishment through a fair trial. Protesters plan to maintain their presence at the site until the end of the day.
