Shahbagh protesters won't leave
Demand ban on Jamaat-e-Islami
Published : Saturday, 09 February 2013
SURGE OF YOUTH: Shahbag in the city turned into a human sea Friday, as a multitude of people, mostly youths, joined the ongoing demonstration there, demanding capital punishment for Abdul Quader Molla and other war criminals. — FE Photo
FE Report
Protestors at a grand rally on Friday at Shahbagh Square pledged to continue their on-going movement, demanding death penalty for war criminals including, among others, Quader Mollah and vowed to spread their programme, being imbibed with the spirit of war of liberation of 1971, all over the country.
Demanding a ban on the activities of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, they also promised to boycott various business and media entities run by the party.
The rally was held on the fourth consecutive day of protest by the angry youths and students, being joined in people of all ages and professions from the capital city and elsewhere, to give vent to their 'anger' against the war criminals and active collaborators of the then Pakistan occupation army during the war of liberation.
They have been protesting since last Tuesday evening against the verdict of International Crimes Tribunal-2 that convicted war criminal Abdul Quader Mollah for life imprisonment.
The protestors in their grand rally on Friday demanded immediate measures by the government to bring necessary changes in the International Crimes Tribunal Act (ICTA)-1973 to ensure capital punishment for the war criminals.
They, however, demanded scraping memberships of Jamaat leaders -- Kamaruzzaman and Abdul Quader Mollah -- from the National Press Club.
They also urged the current government to go ahead with a special move to ban the activities of the political parties of the anti-liberation forces who had strongly opposed Bangladesh's independence in 1971.
In their demand at the rally, they pressed for government actions to nationalise various institutions like Islami Bank, IBN Sina Trust, Retina and Focus coaching centres that are 'linked' with the Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh to clip their financial power to serve their evil political designs.
The mammoth rally was attended by students, teachers, freedom fighters, members of socio-cultural organisations, children and housewives, all of whom started arriving at the venue with placards, banners, festoons and other symbolic objects, highlighting their demand for giving death penalty for the war criminals since early morning.
In the afternoon, Shahbagh Square, which is also called by 'Prajonmo Chhattar' (Generation Square) or Tarunno Chhattar (Youth Square) and its adjacent areas were rocked by anti-******* (Pakistani collaborators) slogans in an environment that the freedom fighters termed as the second 'Race Course' from where the occupation Pakistani forces surrendered on December 16, 1971 and also from
where Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman earlier gave his historic March 7 speech in 1971.
Online bloggers at their own initiative arranged the protest programme since Tuesday evening last. Since then it spread out to other districts like Chittagong, Sylhet, Khulna, Barisal, Narayanganj, Nilphamri and Chandpur.
Talking to FE, freedom fighter Shamsher Ali Talukder, who come to the spot from Madaripur district on Thursday afternoon, said the spontaneous participation of young people at the Square reminds all of the spirit of 1971 which is now back again only to awake the people against the conspiracy that is now being hatched to save the war criminals.
Appreciating the role of the youth force to remove the stigma of the country, he said history tells no revolutionary changes can be achieved without their active participation. "It will repeat again in Bangladesh," he added.
During the grand rally, vice-chancellor (VC) of Jahangirnagar University Dr Anwar Hossain said the government should immediately take steps to make necessary changes in ICTA-1973 to ensure death penalty for the war criminals.
Dhaka University VC AAMS Arefin Siddique requested the authorities concerned for reviewing the ICT-2 verdict as the judgment frustrated the country's citizens, resulting in mass resentment.
Professor Anu Mohammad said an alarm bell is now ringing for all quarters who are giving shelter to the war criminals. The people of the country do not believe in the politics of negotiation with such murderers, he noted.
Prominent journalist Kamal Lohani said the people have given the verdict unanimously in favour of death penalty for the war criminals through their protest that has already intensified in various parts of the country.
"The Jamaat and its student wing, Islami Chhatra Shibir (ICS), should be boycotted by all sections of people as the anti-liberation forces have no right to live in independent Bangladesh," he added.
Terming the young generation as freedom fighters of the present generation, Dr Zafar Iqbal, one of the eminent writers of the country, said departed souls of the freedom fighters got relief, seeing the spirit of the people at the rally.
Zafar Iqbal said the youths have taken up the responsibility of accomplishing the unfinished tasks of the freedom fighters. "I had an idea that the young generation only knows updating their status on facebook. Today, I've been proved wrong. You've proved you can come down to the streets when it is needed."
A blogger Zunaid Khan said, "It is not a political movement, it is the movement of the broad sections of the people who become upset because of the judgment and we're not politically influenced at all."
Meanwhile, law enforcement agencies also took tight security arrangements around the Shahbagh Square to prevent any untoward incidents.
Deputy Commissioner (Ramna) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police Syed Nurul Islam said five check posts were installed around the Square to allow the protestors in, after checking.
"Several teams of police were also deployed at the rooftop of the high-rise buildings from where they monitored the overall situation through binoculars," he added.
Besides, Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) and Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (Wasa) facilitated temporary toilets and water tankers for the demonstrators.
Primary medical treatment centres were also set up by non-governmental organisations at several key points in the area to give first aid to the protestors, in the case of any need.
UNB adds: The pro-liberation activists at the venue of the rally sought to teach the nation the 'abc' of asserting the right to get justice, chanting various innovative slogans.
"A for Abdul Alim, B for Bachchu *******, K for Kamruzzaman, Q for Quader Mollah, S for Sayedee, G for Ghulam Azam. All war criminals must be hanged," they demanded at Prajanma Chattar.
People occupied the streets. A strong sense of national unity was strongly evident in the waiving of countless red and green waves -- the national flag.
Different organisations including Bangabandhu Medical Technologists Association, Garment Sramik Oikya Forum, Bangabandhu Sishu Academy Central Committee, Shikder Medical College and Hospital, Janata Bank Officers' Kalyan Samity, BAU Teachers' Association, Dhaka Wasa Samity etc. expressed solidarity with the protestors.
A drama titled 'Khepa paglar pechal' was staged at the venue by Theater Art Unit.
The celebrities of sports and cultural arena, including former cricketer Rakibul Hasan, singer Fakir Alamgir and footballer Arif Khan Joy joined the protestors to inspire the movement.
In his appraisal of the youths at the rally, noted writer Syed Shamsul Haque said: "I think we're to get a new Bangladesh. No one will be able to resist our march."
He said the nation was liberated through struggle but not at anybody's mercy.
The Chairman of Bangladesh Liberation War Veteran's Organisation, Helal Morshed Khan said: "Even though the nation was freed from the prolonged autocratic rule in 1990, the trial of the war criminals got out of focus of all the political parties due to conspiracies. This time, I'm hopeful the new generation will be able to realise the demand for the capital punishment of war criminals,"
"The verdict is absolutely deplorable," he stressed.
Supreme Court Bar Association former secretary SM Rezaul Karim said: "I'm here to express my solidarity with the demand not only as a lawyer but also as a citizen."
Leader of Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) Haider Akbar Khan Rano said: "I salute you. You're on the verge of creating a new history."
Fakir Alamgir, also a member of Swadhin Bangla Betar, sat for hours in the rally and sang famous scores like "Purbo Digante Surjo Utheche", which were aired through the temporary radio station during the Liberation War in 1971.
The protesters also made it clear that they do not welcome the country's top political leaders as they turned down the requests of many leaders of the ruling Awami League and other political parties.
Several senior Awami League leaders, including Post and Telecommunications Minister Shahara Khatun and AL joint secretary general Mahbub-ul Alam Hanif faced a humiliating situation last Thursday and they were asked to stay away from 'Prajanma Chattar'.
Activists occupying the venue at Shahbagh said they condemn not only the verdict given by the International Crimes Tribunal-2 (ICT-2) but also the prosecution for their inefficiency to handle the case and the false statements made by the AL leaders on the issue.
The spirit at the venue was high as people broke into the chants of "Tui *******" (you are a war criminal) and the protesters stood and sang the national anthem in chorus at the rally organised by Blogger and Online Activists Network.
People from all walks of life came to the rally venue from various parts of the capital in numerous vehicles and in small groups, carrying the national flag, musical instruments, banners and placards.
The gathering had spread from the rally venue to the streets up to Doel intersection, Banglamotor, Kataban and Matsya Bhaban areas.
bdnews24.com adds: Moderated by freedom fighter Nasiruddin Yusuf Bachchu, the rally was also addressed by Mili Rahman, wife of Shaheed Flight Lieutenant M Matiur Rahman Bir Shrestha (one of the most valiant heroes of the Liberation War) and freedom fighter and cultural personalities like Hasan Imam.
Mili Rahman said, "Our new generation has woken up. No one can stop us. It's that Ekattor (1971) when we librated the country. Today you, the youngsters, will build a country free of Razakars and Shibir."
Financial Express :: Financial Newspaper of Bangladesh
Bangladeshi cricketer, Raqibul Hasan was there at Shahbagh.
No doubt he will be called a "RAW agent", "communist" and "Indian dalal" by the Jamati gang on this forum including Kobiraaz, Idune, Al-Zakir, Kalu_Miah, M_Saint, Md Akmal, Luffy and others.
So was former footballer, Arif Khan Joy.
Will be looking forward to see our boys from the national cricket team at Shahbagh.
