Awami League Stages Sudden Procession in Khulna

Leaders and activists of the Bangladesh Awami League organised a sudden flash procession at the Zero Point area in Khulna city early Sunday morning. The procession was held under the banner of the Khulna district unit of the party and marks the Awami League’s first political programme in the city since the fall of the government on 5 August.

Eyewitnesses and circulating footage on social media show a small group of demonstrators emerging abruptly, marching with a large banner displaying images of the country’s founding leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The participants chanted slogans such as “Sheikh Hasina fears nothing” and “We have not left the streets,” asserting the party’s continuing presence in public spaces despite its recent loss of power.

Notably, no senior or familiar faces from the Khulna district Awami League leadership were visible in the demonstration. When contacted, party officials from the district unit declined to comment on the incident. However, a mid-level leader from the Dumuria upazila unit, speaking on condition of anonymity, disclosed that the procession was deliberately organized with lesser-known activists from the upazila and union levels. “We were instructed to avoid using recognisable faces to minimise risk and avoid drawing attention from law enforcement. That’s why the demonstration was carried out by new or relatively unknown party members,” the leader said.

The Zero Point area, where the flash procession was held, falls under the jurisdiction of the Horintana Police Station within the Khulna Metropolitan Police (KMP). Officer-in-Charge (OC) Khairul Bashar confirmed the occurrence of the event, stating, “A group of Awami League activists suddenly got down from a vehicle, marched with banners, and dispersed quickly before police could intervene. The roads were relatively quiet at that hour, making it easier for them to carry out the demonstration. We are currently reviewing footage and gathering intelligence to identify and take action against those involved.”

The incident reflects a tactical shift in how political activities are being carried out by the Awami League at the grassroots level, relying on spontaneous and low-profile events to navigate heightened political sensitivities and surveillance in the post-government period.