Rally back at Shahbagh

Thousands marched down the streets in processions across the country on Sunday morning to oppose the nationwide strike called by the 12 small parties which is backed by the BNP and the Jamaat-e-Islami.

The ‘Ganajagaran Mancha’ at Shahbagh called upon the people to hit the streets to oppose the strike.

A procession from Shahbagh began around 9:45am, led by student organisation leaders, reported bdnews24.com Correspondent.

Students from Dhaka University halls and other educational institutions began gathering at Shahbagh since morning.

Industries Minister Dilip Barua expressed his solidarity with the procession taken out from Shahbagh.

The procession went round Paltan, scene of Friday's mayhem by the anti-Shahbagh mob, and later returned to Shahbagh to join the ongoing protests.

Protesters had pledged to resist war criminals at the Saturday afternoon rally in Rayerbazar Intellectual Martyrs Mausoleum.

Later, Imran H Sarkar, the spokesperson for Ganajagaran Mancha at Shahbagh, announced that they would continue with demonstrations and appealed to the nation to reject Sunday's strike.

In response to his calls, nationwide rallies were taking place with "Ganajagaran Mancha" banners demanding execution of 'war criminals'.

Around 11am on Sunday night, as the 24-hour ultimatum to arrest Amar Desh Acting Editor Mahmudur Rahman expired, Imran said the protesters wanted to see Rahman arrested before the time the Mirpur protest would begin in the afternoon.

He threatened tougher movement if the arrest was not made by Monday.

Demonstrators will return to Shahbagh intersection at 3pm as part of daily protest programme. Protest at Shahbagh will continue until 10pm alongside the Mirpur programme.