Banned Chhatra League holds procession in Dhaka's Mohakhali

The demonstrators shout slogans demanding the release of "political prisoners" ahead of the Awami League's founding anniversary

Several hundred activists of the Awami League’s banned student wing Chhatra League have conducted a procession in Dhaka’s Mohakhali.

The march began from the Mohakhali Bus Stand around 9am on Thursday.

A passerby identified as Mithun Sarkar told bdnews24.com that people started gathering outside the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b) around 9am before suddenly launching a procession with banners towards the bus terminal.

Demonstrators were heard shouting slogans calling for the release of "political prisoners" and marking the Awami League's founding anniversary.

Mithun said some 20 to 25 women from the Jubo Mohila League joined the procession along the way.

Slogans chanted included "Joy Bangla, Joy Bangabandhu", "Sheikh Hasina will return, Bangladesh will smile", and "Jun 23 is Awami League's birthday”.

Another passerby said the women arrived from the direction of Mohakhali bus terminal, shouting as they merged with the Chhatra League crowd.

Tejgaon Industrial Area Police Station chief Md Mahbubur Rahman said some people had taken to the streets in Mohakhali shortly after 9am, adding that two had been detained and efforts were under way to track down the rest.