'Until death' vow with Rajib's body ....

The protesters at Shahbagh on Saturday vowed, in the name of their slain compatriot and blogger Ahmed Rajib Haider, to continue with their demand seeking capital punishment for all war criminals, until death.

Staff Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 16 Feb 2013, 09:29 AM
Updated : 16 Feb 2013, 10:18 AM

Rajib was found murdered near his Mirpur residence on Friday night.

His family and friends blamed it on the activists of the Jamaat-e-Islami and its students’ wing, the Islami Chhatra Shibir.

Imran H Sarker, one of the initiators of the unprecedented movement, was among the thousands of protesters who took the vow, touching the blogger’s body, after Rajib’s coffin draped in national flag reached Shahbagh, now christened Prajanma Chattar, at around 5:30pm.

Rajib was one of the voices that echoed the demand of the millions over the past 12 days, seeking death penalty to the war criminals.

Throwing fists in the air, demonstrators vented their anger and shouted slogans, the intensity of which could only be compared to a volcano about to erupt.

Protesters were on their feet as the siren of the ambulance carrying Rajib’s body was heard.

A team of freedom fighters gave a guard of honour to the new generation ‘freedom fighter’.

Later Dhaka University Central Mosque Imam Syed Emdad Uddin conducted the funeral prayer of the slain blogger, which was attended by hundred and thousands of enraged protesters.

Slogans like “Shaheed Rajiber rokto, brithha jete debo na”, “Shaheed Rajib shikhiyechhe, lorai kore bachte hobe”, and “Ek Rajib lokantore, lokkho Rajib Shahbaghe” rent the air.

The crowd stretched until Ruposhi Bangla Hotel on the north, Dhaka University TSC on the south, Ramna gate on the east and Katabon on the west.*

The protesters had on Friday announced staging seven-hour demonstration, from from 3pm, everyday, but they reverted to round the clock protest following Rajib’s killing.

Rajib’s father Dr Nazim Uddin filed a case over the murder with the Pallabi Police Station accusing some unidentified youths for his son’s murder.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Home Minister MK Alamgir visited the residence of Rajib at Mirpur and assured stern action against the perpetrators.

Hasina described Rajib as the “first martyr” of the Shahbagh movement,

The body of the blogger was sent to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) morgue for autopsy on Friday night.

DMCH Forensic Department’s Dr Sohel Mahmud, who conducted the autopsy, told bdnews24.com that the body had eight stab-wounds.

“Among the eight injuries caused by machetes, six are deep enough to cause death,” he added.

Prior to the funeral prayer at Shahbagh, Rajib’s uncle Alam said,” This body of my nephew belongs to the Prajanma (generation). That’s why We have brought the body to the site of the protest (now named Prajanman Chattar). We want revolution. We want another 71.”

Nazim Uddin, in his reaction to the death of his son, said,” I want to see a nation free of Razakars.”

'Ghaibana Namaz-e-Janaza' or the 'funeral prayers in absence' for the slain was held in Chittagong and Rangpur on Friday afternoon.

Relatives said the body of Rajib will be buried at Gazipur’s Kapasia after taking it to his residence at Mirpur.