On Saturday, May 10, students and citizens staged a sit-in protest at the Shahbagh intersection in Dhaka, calling for the banning of the Awami League and raising three key demands. The demonstrators have blocked all roads around Shahbagh since morning, although emergency vehicles like ambulances are being allowed through.

Protesters vowed to remain on the streets until an official announcement is made to ban the ruling party. They cited incidents of killings, enforced disappearances, and various crimes against humanity allegedly committed by the Awami League over the past 16 years. The demonstrators also demanded immediate trial of the party by amending the International Crimes Tribunal Act.

Hasnat Abdullah, chief organizer (South) of the National Citizens' Party (NCP), announced a mass rally at Shahbagh in the afternoon to press home the demands. He also called for similar protests in every district and sub-district.

The movement gained momentum on Thursday night (May 8) when activists began a protest in front of the Prime Advisor’s residence in Jamuna. On Friday morning, Hasnat Abdullah officially announced the ongoing campaign, after which Dhaka's streets turned tense. By 4:40 PM, thousands of protesters had sat down on the main Shahbagh road, launching the blockade in full force.