The Anti-Discrimination Students Movement issued an ultimatum of a blockade of Shahbagh Square if the hearing date for the Pilkhana massacre case is not announced within an hour.
On Thursday, Mahin Sarkar, one of the movement's coordinators announced it through a Facebook post.
Mahin's post declared, "If the announcement does not come within an hour, we will express solidarity with the BDR families. Shahbagh Square will be blocked at 1:00pm, with a procession commencing from the Central Shaheed Minar."
He also called upon people to gather at the Shaheed Minar, urging, "In the national interest, join us at the Central Shaheed Minar premises, regardless of political affiliations. We request Dhaka residents to use alternative routes to Shahbagh after 1:00pm."
Protesters had already begun assembling at the Shaheed Minar to press their demands. Reports suggest the group is poised to march towards Shahbagh Square as tensions escalate over the long-pending case.
That hearing of the explosives case relating to the Pilkhana massacre was scheduled at 10:30 hours on Thursday at a temporary court on Bakshibazar Alia Madrasa grounds. But it was confirmed by the prosecutors of the state that it had been postponed due to fire damage at the venue.
