What would normally be a routine birthday notice has instead become a focal point for mass anger and public denunciation of Sheikh Hasina. Far from a nationwide celebration, today has seen citizens, students, and activist groups openly voicing hatred toward Hasina — resurfacing years of infamy, oppression, and alleged political killings, with some organising symbolic acts of contempt, including shoe‑throwing at portraits.
Video clips and social posts showing crowds hurling shoes at images of Hasina have circulated widely online, fueling demonstrations in university precincts and public squares. Organisers and participants say the actions are meant to condemn what they call years of repression, selective justice, and authoritarian rule.
The unrest follows months of intense political turmoil across the country: protesters earlier this year attacked and demolished symbolic sites tied to Hasina’s political legacy, and clashes between opposing political groups have left a volatile public mood.
Human rights campaigners warn that while popular anger is legitimate, protests are also being met with heavy-handed responses in some places, and social media carries a mix of eyewitness footage and unverified material — complicating efforts to build a clear, evidence-based account. Still, for many citizens today, September 28 is not a celebration: it is a day to loudly demand accountability and to keep public memory of alleged abuses alive.
