Students of Jahangirnagar University (JU) staged a rally and blocked Dhaka-Aricha Highway early Friday demanding an immediate ban on Awami League (AL) and its affiliate organisations for their alleged involvement in the mass killings during the July uprising.

The protest began around 1am at the university’s Bot Tala area, with the protestors marching through several main roads on campus before taking position on the highway near the main gate.

The students put the blockade on the road for around 30 minutes while the traffic resumed around 2am upon their departure.

Students led by NCP leaders rally in front of Jamuna, demand ban on Awami League

They referred to the incidents of last July when, they claimed, two thousand students and civilians lost their lives in the violence instigated by the then ruling party.

Arifuzzaman Ujjal, convenor of Anti-Discrimination Student Movement at JU, said, "The AL lost its moral right to rule following the mass killings during the July uprising. The people of Bangladesh have passed their verdict that the party must be banned."

He went on saying that the AL might return but not to engage in politics but to face justice.

The interim government, which came to power with the mandate of July, must fulfill its promises, or they too will be removed from power, he said, urging all anti-fascist forces to unite in the call for a ban on the AL.

Abdur Rashid Jitu, convenor of ‘Active People's Uprising Protection Movement’ at JU, said, "We see some groups attempting to rehabilitate the AL. We want to warn them that the warriors of the July uprising are still alive, and we will stop any attempts to rehabilitate the party even if we have to give our last drop of blood."

Won’t leave streets until AL’s registration is cancelled, political activities banned: Nahid 

A group of students, led by National Citizens Party (NCP) leaders, gathered in front of the chief adviser's residence, Jamuna, on Wednesday night demanding a political ban on the Awami League.