• Members associated with July Oikya, a coalition of several organizations over the July 2024 unrest, announced a protest march from Rampura Bridge to the Indian High Commission in Dhaka at 15:00 (local time) on December 17. 
• The protest will be held to demand the repatriation of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and other individuals accused of ‘crimes against humanity’ during the July 2024 protests, from India.

1. The turnout at the slated rally is likely to range from mid-to-high hundreds, given the involvement of diverse stakeholder groups in July Oikya, as well as the elevated sentiment concerning the July 2024 unrest. The authorities are expected to deploy heightened security measures, particularly along the Rampura Bridge area and in the vicinity of the Indian High Commission, given the sensitivity of the location and to pre-empt disruptions. These measures will include increased police presence, installation of barricades, and traffic diversions to manage the crowd and minimize congestion.      
2. There remains a latent risk of confrontations between demonstrators and the security forces, especially if protesters attempt to advance beyond permitted areas, block major roads, or approach restricted zones. In such scenarios, the authorities are likely to employ crowd-control measures, including baton charges and detentions, to disperse the crowd and restore order. Significant travel disruptions are expected along the aforementioned march route during the protest hours on December 17.

Those operating or residing in Dhaka on December 17 are advised to maintain vigilance in the vicinity of the aforementioned march route due to the slated rally and latent risk of clashes, while allotting for travel disruptions.