A protest march under the banner of “Student People” was held in Uttara demanding a ban on the Awami League. Participants called for the immediate arrest of those who earlier marched in the area under the AL banner. They chanted slogans against Sheikh Hasina and her party and issued a 24-hour ultimatum to detain the ruling party’s local demonstrators. A similar rally was held in Jatrabari led by Harunur Rashid Munna, General Secretary of the local AL unit.

BNP leader Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas stated that had the July 24 movement failed, the fascist Sheikh Hasina regime would have erased all opposition. He emphasized that the ideals of the July Revolution must guide the vision for a future Bangladesh. Over 2,000 people lost their lives in that struggle, the majority being impoverished workers. “Their blood ensured the revolution’s success,” he said. Biswas added that Bangladeshis have never been subservient to India, but Sheikh Hasina forcibly aligned the nation under Indian dominance. He called for unity among the 73.5 million workers in Bangladesh to build a labor-friendly nation.

Sharif Osman Hadi, spokesperson of Inqilab Manch, declared that the Awami League’s end will come as long as the “July Warriors” live. He warned that AL has no chance of running electoral campaigns without state protection. “They’ll have to flee to Delhi or end up floating in the Bay of Bengal,” he said. Hadi demanded trials for the July, Pilkhana, and Shapla Chattar massacres and called for Awami League to be banned for committing mass killings. He urged nationwide participation in the April 25 rally at Shahbagh demanding the party’s ban.

Former Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam claimed the 2024 election in Magura-1, where cricketer Shakib Al Hasan became MP, was entirely staged. He said Shakib knew beforehand he would win, as there was no real competition. Alam criticized the Awami League as a corrupt and violent party and questioned how someone like Shakib could join such an entity. He also held Shakib accountable for not speaking out after protest-related killings occurred in his constituency.

Jamaat-e-Islami Naib-e-Ameer Mujibur Rahman warned the interim government that failure to restore the party’s registration and electoral symbol will lead to mass democratic protests. He criticized the government’s selective releases of political prisoners and demanded the immediate release of ATM Azharul Islam. He accused the Awami League of political revenge and orchestrated judicial killings of Jamaat’s senior leaders.

BNP leader Shamsuzzaman Dudu alleged that the interim government is protecting those responsible for destroying democracy in Bangladesh over the past 15 years. He criticized the lack of justice for missing BNP leader and former MP Ilias Ali, and said key advisers have ignored the matter. Dudu claimed that fair elections are being intentionally avoided to prevent BNP from gaining popular support. He also demanded the execution of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

On Friday, Awami League activists organized a flash rally in Uttara’s Dhaka-18 parliamentary constituency. Chants like “Who are you, who am I – we’re all Bengalis,” “Our identity is Padma, Meghna, Jamuna,” and “Sheikh Hasina returns, Bangladesh smiles” echoed through the streets. The rally was led by Atikur Rahman Milon, General Secretary of the Awami League’s Uttarkhan Union branch under Dhaka North city.

Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar has stated that his party is ready to participate in national elections only after comprehensive reforms and legal proceedings against Sheikh Hasina. “There will be no elections before justice and reform. The Ameer has already called for a national unity. A self-reliant new Bangladesh cannot be built without it,” he said. Porwar added, “In trying to ban Jamaat, Hasina has been politically outlawed by the people themselves.” Referring to the July movement, he emphasized the blood debt of over 2,000 lives lost and 30,000 injured, asserting the party’s responsibility to them. He also stressed the need for a justice-based and inclusive Bangladesh. “The key challenge for the interim government will be to restore the people’s right to vote,” he concluded, vowing that Jamaat and BNP would continue to stand united on future national issues as they have over the past 16 years.

Former ambassador M. Maruf Zaman was reportedly abducted from the airport area on December 4, 2017, and held in a DGFI-run torture cell for 16 months. Zaman, known for criticizing Indian influence and the Hasina government, described harrowing conditions: loss of teeth from beatings, torn ligaments, untreated infections, and insect-infested cells. He endured extreme torture methods, including waterboarding, and witnessed fellow detainees disappearing. Guards occasionally hinted at secret executions.

Gono Odhikar Parishad leader Nurul Haque Nur has called for immediate action against financial criminals and political mafias, stating that even during the 1/11 political crackdown, some top businessmen were arrested along with politicians. He criticized the current transitional government for failing to take action against major corrupt figures, especially land grabbers and financial embezzlers allegedly shielded by authoritarian powers. Nur specifically mentioned that while minor actions were taken against entities linked to S. Alam Group, there has been no visible action against the real enablers of corruption. He urged advisors to take swift measures, warning, “There is no room for fascist looters and mafias in the Bangladesh of 2024.”

Jamaat leader Dr. Md. Helal Uddin has alleged that extortion similar to that of the fascist era still persists in certain areas. Referring to Gulistan as a bustling hub where around 100,000 traders operate daily, he said business owners want a smooth environment but face harassment. He emphasized that only governance based on divine law and honest leadership can end such corruption. Referring to the August 5 student uprising, Helal mentioned slogans like “We want justice”, “Allahu Akbar”, and “Dhaka’s sovereignty over Delhi”, urging structural reforms, trials for fascist collaborators, and fair elections to honor the sacrifices made.

BNP senior leader Ruhul Kabir Rizvi questioned the government’s motives in presenting reforms as a substitute for democratic elections and voting rights. Speaking on the 13th anniversary of Ilias Ali’s disappearance, he criticized the government’s failure to withdraw politically motivated cases against opposition activists. He also challenged the interim government’s shifting promises on election dates and demanded answers on the issue of enforced disappearances.

Hasnat Abdullah, chief organizer of the National Citizens’ Party (NCP) for the southern region, stated in a Facebook post that Bangladeshi politics should not follow “prescriptions” obtained from meetings with RAW’s station chief. He further criticized those promoting compromise politics, warning them to reassess their stance on the ruling Awami League urgently.

Nagorik Oikya President Mahmudur Rahman Manna has said that disagreements between political parties and the interim government are becoming increasingly evident. “Ultimately, we must return to democracy to resolve the current crisis. Dialogue is the only way forward,” he stated. Commenting on international issues, Manna condemned the ongoing genocide in Gaza, calling it an unparalleled atrocity in modern history. “Words fail to describe the suffering of the Palestinian people. We stand in solidarity with the struggle for an independent Palestine,” he said.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia may return to the country at any time next month, according to Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman. Speaking to the media, he said, “I visited Khaleda Zia recently to check on her health. Since we couldn’t meet in Bangladesh, it was purely a courtesy call—there was no formal discussion.” He added that Khaleda Zia is recovering and preparing to return to Bangladesh.