'AL supporters' bring out flash procession in Sylhet with 'Joy Bangla, Joy Bangabandhu' slogans

A group of people perceived to be supporters of the ousted Awami League (AL) government brought out a flash procession in Sylhet early today (18 November). 

Eyewitnesses said around 15-20 people, most of whom were wearing masks, started the procession with a banner from the city's Dargah Gate area at around 7am. They, however, dispersed before reaching the Chowhatta area within minutes.

They said there was no police presence on the roads during the procession, and traffic was very light.

This is the first such procession in Sylhet since the ouster of the Awami League government on 5 August through a mass uprising led by students.

This was the model of protests that opposition parties, including BNP, had adopted in the face of strict obstructions during the AL regime. Gather in a location, bring out a procession, quickly take photos and videos, and then disappear after immediately dispersing.

During the procession in Sylhet, slogans were chanted in support of the ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina and against the chief adviser of the interim government, Prof Muhammad Yunus. 

Eyewitnesses said slogans like "Joy Bangla, Joy Bangabandhu" and "Sylhet's ground, Chhatra League's town" were also chanted during the flash procession.

Multiple eyewitnesses believed it was a procession of the banned Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), the student wing of AL, based on the slogans heard.

However, no known leaders or office-bearers of the Sylhet Chhatra League were seen in the photos and videos of the procession that spread on social media.

"We have not heard about any such procession yet. We are looking into the matter," said Md Ziaul Haq, officer-in-charge (OC) of Kotwali Model Police Station. 

In the wee hours of today, BCL leaders and activists also brought out a similar flash procession in the Prabartak Intersection area of Chattogram city.

A group of 15-20 people took to the streets briefly chanting slogans like "Amra Kara, Sheikh Hasina, tomra kara, Sheikh Hasina", (Who are we, Sheikh Hasina, who are you, Sheikh Hasina), and then dispersed within two minutes, said witnesses.

Earlier, Shafiqul Alam, press secretary to the chief adviser, said AL would not be granted permission to hold a protest programme in Dhaka.

"The Awami League in its current form is a fascist party. There is no way this fascist party will be allowed to hold protests in Bangladesh," he had said.

Amid demands from the students, the interim government on 23 October banned the Chhatra League in line with the Anti-Terrorism Act 2009.