Shahbagh youths back
Kamaruzzaman verdict Thursday
Youths at Shahbagh sing patriotic songs to uphold their spirit on Wednesday evening. Photo courtesy by Blogger and Online Activist Network - BOAN Facebook page
The youths are back. With songs and slogans in their spirited hearts, Shahbagh got back its familiar look. Once again hundreds of youths gathered and lit up candles to rekindle their protest demanding death to all war criminals.
They will wait agonizingly for Thursday’s verdict on Jamaat-e Islami leader Kamaruzzaman’s crimes against humanity committed during the 1971 Liberation War of Bangladesh.
“If the verdict is death sentence, we will rejoice it by bringing out a victory procession,” said Maruf Rasul, one of the key orgranisers of Shahbagh movement that started on February 5 shortly after a Dhaka tribunal awarded life term imprisonment to Quader Mollah for war crimes.
Frustrated by the verdict, Bloggers and Online Activists Network, imbued with the spirit of the Liberation War, initiated the movement as they demanded death penalty to the notorious war criminal.
Deeply moved by the rekindling of the spirit, thousands of people later joined the youths.
Hurdles came along the way as some vested quarters started a smear campaign against the protest organisers, terming them as ‘atheists’ and saying that they hurt the ‘religious sentiments of Muslims’.
The rumour even cost the life of Ahmed Rajib Haider, a blogger and activist of Shahbagh movement, who was stabbed dead on February 15.
In 91 days of protest, the youths faced an attack from a Quami Madrasa based organisation — Hefajat-e Islam — as it launched several demonstrations against them.
In the wake of demonstrations by Islamists, law enforcers on Monday morning dismantled the stage, media cells and several tents set up by the Shahbagh youths.
Now Shahbagh intersection once more came up with their display of the art form of resistance.
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