Students and supporters of the National Citizen Party (NCP), along with other platforms, began an indefinite sit-in protest in front of the Chief Adviser's residence, state guesthouse Jamuna, on 8 May at 10pm, demanding a complete ban on the Awami League (AL).
"We will remain here until a clear roadmap for banning the Awami League is provided," said Hasnat Abdullah, Chief Organiser (South) of NCP, who announced the protest earlier via a Facebook post. Protesters chanted slogans such as "Catch the League and send to jail" and "Catch the League and ensure justice," according to our correspondent at the scene.
Members of RAB, army, and police were deployed to maintain order, attempting to calm the situation. Meanwhile, Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan announced that the Awami League’s affiliated organizations, Juba League and Swechchhasebak League, are set to be banned, with the process in its final stage.
NCP leaders, including Convener Nahid Islam, rejected this as insufficient. "The farce of banning Juba League and Swechchhasebak League is unacceptable. The Awami League must be declared a terrorist and fascist organization and banned. Provisions for its trial as a party must be added to the ICT Act," Nahid posted on Facebook at 11:23pm, shortly after Asif’s announcement. Hasnat echoed the sentiment in a similar post, stating, "We do not stand with those whose agendas lack a clear commitment to banning the genocidal Awami League."
In a Facebook post at 10:24pm, Nahid emphasized the urgency: "Our promise in July was to bring the murderers to justice, and Mujibists will never do politics on Bengali soil again. Tonight, the decision on the Awami League must be made." He expressed distrust in the government, citing delays in AL’s trial, failure to cancel its registration, bail for accused members, and the escape of the former president. "We will not leave the streets until a clear roadmap for the trial, registration cancellation, and ban on Awami League’s political activities is presented," he added, calling on martyr families, the injured, and July movement supporters to join the protest.