Protesters injured during last year’s mass uprising withdrew from their demonstration early on Monday (February) after receiving assurances that their demands would be addressed.
Earlier, around midnight, they gathered in front of the residence of Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, breaching security barricades along the way. Law enforcement, however, managed the situation without violence.
Masud Alam, deputy commissioner of Ramna Division, stated that the demonstrators dispersed at approximately 1:45am after Hasnat Abdullah, central coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, assured them that some of their demands would be fulfilled within the week, with the remainder to be addressed in the coming days.
"Now we are depending on the government’s actions and his assurances," said one of the injured protesters.
According to witnesses, the protesters first broke through a police barricade near the Intercontinental Hotel in Shahbagh around midnight before attempting to breach a second barrier set up by the army near the State Guest House Jamuna, where the chief adviser resides.
Law enforcement, including police from Ramna Division and other units, was deployed to the area.
At around 12:30am, Hasnat Abdullah arrived and attempted to pacify the protesters, who had vowed not to retreat without a written government commitment to their demands—proper medical treatment, rehabilitation, and formal state recognition.
They also insisted that a representative from the chief adviser’s office meet them.
On Sunday (2 February) the protesters blocked the Shishu Mela intersection in Shaymoli, setting a 4pm deadline for a written assurance from the government.
The blockade remained in place throughout the day.
By the evening, the demonstrators marched toward the chief adviser’s residence but were halted near the Intercontinental Hotel at 7:30pm, where they staged a sit-in before eventually dispersing after negotiations.
