Non-cooperation programme: Protests called on Monday, ‘Long March to Dhaka’ on Tuesday

The Anti-discrimination Student Movement has called additional programmes amid the violence surrounding the first day of their non-cooperation programme

The Anti-discrimination Student Movement has announced nationwide protests and demonstrations on Monday and a ‘Long March to Dhaka’ programme on Tuesday to continue its push for the fall of the government.

Nahid Islam, one of the movement’s coordinators, announced the programme in a press release at 1:45pm on Sunday.

He wrote that memorials would be put up in remembrance of the ‘martyrs’ killed at locations across the country.

A workers’ rally is to be held at Dhaka’s Shahbagh at 11am and a women’s rally at the Central Shaheed Minar at 5pm.

The protestors have also called for demonstrations and public sit-in programmes across the country.

Nahid announced the 'Long March to Dhaka' programme calling on students, citizens and workers from all over the country to march to Dhaka on Tuesday.

He announced that protestors will gather at Shahbagh at 2pm that day.

In his statement, Nahid said, "Form struggle committees under the leadership of students in all areas, neighbourhoods, villages, Upazilas and districts.”

"If there is an internet crackdown, we can be abducted, arrested, killed. If there is no one to declare programmes, everyone will occupy the streets and continue peaceful non-cooperation until the government falls to our one-point demand."

The movement calling for reforms to the quota system for government jobs has now begun to call for the government to step down.

The Anti-discrimination Student Movement, the platform for the protesters, has rejected Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s call for discussions. Instead, they have declared a ‘complete non-cooperation’ programme for the government’s fall.

The BNP and its affiliate organisations have joined the movement, as have various political, professional and cultural organisations. The ruling Awami League has also called for marches and ward-by-ward programmes on Sunday.

Clashes and casualties were reported from Dhaka and several other districts amid the protests. Two people were killed in the clash between protesters, the police, and the Awami League and Chhatra League activists in Munshiganj. A Chhatra Dal leader's death has been reported in Magura.