All eyes are fixed on the capital as the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement declared a long march to Dhaka for Monday, rejecting the Sheikh Hasina government’s recently announced indefinite curfew that began at 6 PM Sunday. The protesters, undeterred by the government's measures, have called for mass rallies on the same day, escalating tensions in an already volatile situation.

On Sunday, fierce clashes erupted in various parts of Dhaka and across Bangladesh, marking the first day of the non-cooperation movement initiated by the student protesters. The violence has already claimed over 66 lives, with dozens more injured, as the government struggles to maintain control.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has directed law enforcement agencies to confront the protesters, whom she has labeled as anarchists, with an iron hand. Her party members have taken to the streets, vowing to resist the demonstrators, creating an unpredictable and tense atmosphere in Dhaka as the city braces for the events of the next two days.

Ordinary citizens in Dhaka are living in anxious uncertainty, fearing what might come next as the Prime Minister remains steadfast in her determination to retain power despite the mounting opposition. Tens of thousands of people, including teachers, students, doctors, opposition political party activists, and citizens from all walks of life, are rallying to demand the ouster of the Hasina government. They see this as their only path to justice for the hundreds who have died over the past month in what many are calling the "July Massacre."

Asif Mahmud, one of the key coordinators of the movement, stated in an interview, "We will continue our movement until Sheikh Hasina steps down from power. We will declare a final program from the long march."

In addition to the long march, there will be a workers' rally at Shahbagh at 11:00 AM and a women's rally at the Central Shaheed Minar at 5:00 PM on Monday.

Emerging from a meeting of the National Committee on Security Affairs (NCSA) at her official Ganabhaban residence, Sheikh Hasina declared, “No one of those who now are carrying out violence is a student. They are terrorists, and they should be dealt with iron hands."

In response to the escalating crisis, the ruling Awami League has announced plans to confront the student movement with its own series of demonstrations. The party is set to organize gatherings across all wards of the capital and in districts and cities nationwide, starting Sunday. This move is intended to assert the party's presence and counter the ongoing protests, potentially intensifying the existing unrest.

Awami League presidium member Jahangir Kabir Nanak has stated that the party has reached the end of its patience, emphasizing that patience should not be mistaken for weakness. He urged the public to resist the so-called anarchy being carried out by what he called "BNP-Jamaat militant groups."

Clashes between demonstrators, police, and Awami League supporters erupted across the country on Sunday, the first day of the non-cooperation movement. Reports indicate that 66 people have died nationwide in these confrontations.

During a press briefing at Awami League president Sheikh Hasina's political office in Dhanmondi, Nanak condemned the violence and called on citizens to resist the alleged anarchy. He was joined by other central leaders, including presidium member Abdur Razzak.

On Saturday, the coordinators of the anti-discrimination student movement rejected Prime Minister Hasina’s call for dialogue, instead announcing a one-point demand for the government’s resignation. The student-led movement, initially focused on reform, has intensified its demands amid the rising tensions.

Nahid Islam, a coordinator of the student platform spearheading the protests, announced the shift to a singular demand for the government's resignation at a mass gathering at the Central Shaheed Minar on the Dhaka University campus. This declaration had further fueled unrest, pushing the nation into a precarious situation as both sides brace for what lies ahead.

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