Shahbagh protesters on Sunday announced a fresh round of programmes, including a mass-sit-in in front of the law ministry at the secretariat, human chain outside the parliament building and a workers’ rally at Ganajagaran Mancha.
Blogger Imran H Sarkar, also spokesperson for the Shahbagh protests, while addressing a rally on Sunday announced that they would hold the mass-sit-in in front of the law ministry at 11:00am on April 29.
The protesters would organise a workers’ rally at Shahbagh on May 1 marking the International Labour Day and a human chain in front of the Sangsad Bhaban on May 4.
Imran said they would campaign across the country between April 20 and May 4 to mobilise support for their demands, including death sentence to war criminals and a ban on Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir, and exchange views with representatives of Ganajagaran Manchas in the outlying districts in Dhaka on April 27.
The youth-led Shahbagh protests broke out on February 5 demanding death penalty for all war criminals after the International Crimes Tribunal 2 sentenced Jamaat assistant general secretary Abdul Quader Molla to life in prison.
The protesters later put forth a six-point demand, including death penalty for all war criminals and a ban on Jamaat and Shibir.
Imran censured the government for not paying heed to the demand for a ban on Jamaat.
Urging the people to unite and further strengthen the ongoing movement with the spirit of Pahela Baishakh, he also called for immediate release of the bloggars who had been arrested recently over allegations of ‘hurting religious sentiment by posting derogatory remarks on facebook’.
Former Dhaka University physics professor Ajoy Roy, writer Selina Hossain and blogger Kaniz Aklima Sultana, among others, spoke at the rally.
Thousands of people in traditional Baishakhi dresses chanted slogans against the war criminals and Jamaat-e-Islami at the Shahbagh rally.
With the theme ‘Baiskakher Angikar/ Rukhte Hobe Razakar’ (Resisting razakars is the promise of Baishakh), they also formed a human chain at 5:30 for three minutes on Sunday.
The protesters raised their hands and stood in silence for three minutes before vowing to continue with the movement against the Jamaat-Shibir fanatics.
Later, a candlelight procession ‘Mangal Pradip Projwalan—Aloker Oi Jharnadharaye’ was organised.
The Shahbagh crossing turned into a human sea with the lighting of candles for 11 minutes from 7:30pm, ‘against all dark forces, including war criminals’.
Earlier, the protesters welcomed the Bengali New Year with cultural programmes and joined the Mangal Sobha Jatra at Ramna. (Source)
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