Colours, fireworks as Awami League holds birthday march for Hasina in Dhanmondi

Several hundred Awami League leaders and activists have marched through Dhaka’s Dhanmondi, dancing, spraying colours and setting off fireworks to mark party chief Sheikh Hasina’s birthday.

The procession took place on Road No. 27 around 12:15pm on Saturday, with participants carrying colourful banners and chanting slogans for Hasina, the Awami League and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Rafiqul Islam Rony, a tea stall owner in the area, said several hundred people joined the procession.

“They were chanting, ‘Happy, happy, happy day, Sheikh Hasina’s birthday. Joy Bangla, Joy Bangabandhu,’” he told bdnews24.com.

“They were also spraying colours on each other and setting off fireworks.”

Several participants were seen marching bare-chested, with messages including “Sheikh Hasina’s birthday” and “Happy birthday Sheikh Hasina” written across their chests.

Police detained four people after the procession, Dhanmondi Police Station chief Md Imdadul Islam Tayeb told bdnews24.com.

“A procession took place on Road 27 around 12:15pm. We detained four of them,” he said.

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