The families of a number of student-led mass uprising martyrs on Thursday morning blocked the Shahbagh crossing demanding speedy trial of those involved in the massacre.
They blocked the crossing for around seven and a half hours from 11:00am to 6:30pm to press home their three-point demand.
The blockade halted vehicular movement at the capital鈥檚 busy crossing causing huge traffic congestion on the nearby roads and immense sufferings to the commuters.
The demands are speedy trial of perpetrators after a fair investigation, state recognition of the martyrs, and monthly allowances for their families as well as rehabilitation of the martyrs鈥� families, said a protester, Gausullha Raju, also brother of martyr Abdullah Kabir.
They lifted the blockade after Jatiya Nagarik Committee chief organiser Sarjis Alam assured the protesters that meetings would be held between interim government advisers, including the chief adviser and representatives of the victim families within a few days to meet their logical demands.
鈥業t is unfortunate and shameful that victim families have taken to the streets,鈥� Sarjis said, adding that it will be the biggest limitation of the government if it fails to bring Awami League leaders and activists involved in the massacre to book.聽聽
The victims鈥� family members held a press conference at the end of January raising their 10-point demand and met the interim government advisers, Raju said, adding that the authorities assured the families of addressing their demands in a week.
鈥榃e are left with no option but to hold the blockade as the authorities have not taken any initiative,鈥� added Raju.
Kabir鈥檚 sister Afsana Ahmed said that her brother was killed by ousted Awami League leaders at Mirpur 10 on August 4 and a case was filed with the Mirpur model police station on August 22.
鈥楽ix months have passed but no one has been arrested,鈥� Afsana said, adding that all are busy with power politics and elections but no one is working to ensure justice.
Abdullah Al Maruf, brother of martyr Anwar, who was killed on August 5 at Mirpur, said that a case was filed with the Mirpur model police station three months ago but only one person was arrested in the case.
鈥楨nsuring the trial of the involved persons in July-August massacre should be the priority of the interim government, but we do not see any initiative for that,鈥� said Maruf.
He added that the victims鈥� family members would go for a tougher movement if the authorities do not take visible steps immediately to address their demands.
鈥榃e will continue the blockade till our demands are met,鈥� said Maruf.
Shahbagh police officer-in-charge Mohammad Khalid Mansoor said that police tried to convince the protesters to withdraw the blockade but they refused and continued it.
In a statement, issued on Thursday, the interim government said that the trial of those involved in the July massacre was progressing in full swing.
鈥楾he interim government is committed to ensuring justice and delivering appropriate punishment to the perpetrators of the genocide,鈥� read the statement.聽
According to government data, 834 people were killed and 11,551 injured during the uprising that began on July 1 with protests demanding quota reform in civil service jobs and culminated in the ouster of the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League regime on August 5, 2024.
The government is still updating the data.
