Bangladesh is witnessing heightened unrest as members of the Anti-Discrimination Students (ADS) movement escalated protests on Tuesday night, attempting to storm Bangabhaban, the official residence of President Shahabuddin Chuppu. The protesters demanded his immediate resignation, accusing him of siding with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government amid growing political tensions.
The protests, which had simmered throughout the day, turned violent after nightfall as demonstrators clashed with security forces. Police initially tried to control the crowd, but the situation spiraled, forcing the army to intervene to secure Bangabhaban. Reports indicate that protesters reached the gates of the president’s residence, raising fears of further confrontation.
The unrest follows President Chuppu’s controversial comments about Prime Minister Hasina’s resignation, which angered the student protesters. Earlier in the day, a massive rally at Dhaka’s Central Shahid Minar saw ADS leaders demand not only the president’s resignation but also the banning of the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) — the student wing of the ruling Awami League — branding it a “terrorist organization.”
Sarjis Alam, one of the six central coordinators of the ADS movement, issued a 48-hour ultimatum for the government to disband the BCL. “We are ready to give our eyes, hands, and lives if needed to fight against the rise of the fascist Chhatra League,” Alam said, vowing that the protests would not stop until their demands are met.
Another coordinator, Abdul Hannan Masood, criticized President Chuppu for betraying the movement. “Just as Sheikh Hasina fled, Chuppu must resign too,” Masood declared, warning that protesters would lay siege to Bangabhaban if the president did not step down by Thursday.
The students also called for the abolition of the current constitution, adding a broader political dimension to their demands. With the 48-hour deadline approaching, tension in the capital is rising, and the possibility of further violence looms large.
