A large number of left-leaning students from Dhaka University (DU) participated in protest rallies on Tuesday following the Supreme Court Appellate Division’s acquittal of Jamaat-e-Islami leader ATM Azharul Islam, which cancelled his death sentence awarded by the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) in a war crimes case.
The protest rallies began at Madhur Canteen in Dhaka University(DU) campus at around 5pm and moved through various parts of the DU campus, including the Shahbagh crossing before concluding with a brief stop over at the Raju Memorial Sculpture.
General secretary of one faction of the Bangladesh Students’ Union, Shimul Kumbhakar said, the protesters witnessed the interim government exonerating ATM Azharul, allegedly a commander of the Al-Badr force during the Liberation War in 1971.
“Now the Jamaat is claiming he supported Bangladesh. We condemn the interim government’s attempt to rewrite history after 54 years with such assertions,” he added.
Referring to the political developments following the July uprising, Shimul said certain pro-Pakistani political factions from 1971, including Jamaat, Shibir, and their allies, have reappeared on the political scene.
“They are even claiming to have led the July uprising. If the interim government continues releasing Razakars and Al-Badr members and fully absolving them of their crimes, it will face the same downfall as the fascist Hasina regime,” he added.
The protesters marched through different DU avenues chanting slogans such as “Razakars of 1971 betrayed Bangladesh,” “Jamaat-Shibir-Razakars destroyed July,” and “Mass killers have no place in the Bangladesh of 1971. ”
Participants included leaders and activists from the Bangladesh Students’ Union, Revolutionary Student Unity, Socialist Students’ Front, Democratic Students’ Council, and Student Federation of Bangladesh. Police at one stage, allegedly attempted to block the march at the Shahbagh crossing, but demonstrators reportedly pushed past the obstruction and continued to the Raju Memorial Sculpture.
However, Khalid Monsur, officer-in-charge of Shahbagh police station, denied any police interference, saying he was unaware of any such directive.
Jabir Ahmed Jubel, general secretary of Revolutionary Student Unity, said: “We witnessed someone who was sentenced to death on three separate counts now being cleared of all charges.” “The people of this nation will never forget 1971. Any administration that supports those who committed genocide under the pretext of an uprising will be rejected by the public,” he added.
Meanwhile, in Rajshahi university, the student wing of Jamaat -e-islami , Islami Chaatra Shibir under the banned of “Shahbagh Birodhi Oikkya,” allegedly attacked on torch rally of left leaning student alliance Gonotatrik Chaatra Jote. Gonotatrik Chaatra Jote organized a big torch rally rejecting Appellate division’s acquittal of Jamaat-e-Islami leader ATM Azharul Islam from a death sentence issued by the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT). At least four students of left leaning alliance and one journalist got injured in the Shibir’s attack.
The student wing of BNP Jatiyatabadi chatrra dal at around 10-30 pm chanting slogan “Shibir has no space in this campus” staged a rally demanding trial of attackers on left leaning students. The JCD activists also demand safety and security inside RU campus.
