Thousands join anti-strike march

Thousands joined the procession of 'Ganajagaran Mancha' calling to foil the nationwide strike called by the Jamaat-e-Islami Thursday.

Students of several educational institutions and people from a broad spectrum of society were seen at the procession that began at 10:50am.

Banners reading ‘foil Razakar strike’ were seen at the procession and slogans calling for execution for all war criminals were being raised.

The Jamaat-e-Islami is identified with the Razakars, an auxiliary support force of the Pakistan army during the 1971 Liberation war.

A freedom fighter bearing flag of ‘Muktijoddha Shangshad’ was seen leading the procession, followed by leaders of other cultural institutions and bloggers.

The procession marched through Matsya Bhaban, Paltan, Kakrail, Shantinagar, Malibagh, Mogbazar and Ruposhi Bangla roads, before returning to Shahbagh.

At 11:00am, the procession crossed the Jamaat headquarters in Mogbazar.

People throughout the city were applauding on both sides of the roads during the procession. The length of the procession increased as it moved on.

The morning at Shahbagh began with the national anthem. Many had stayed there overnight.

People from all walks of life were seen converging at Shahbagh in smaller processions from all over Dhaka, reported bdnews24.com correspondents.

The call for taking out processions to foil the Jamaat strike was given at the Motijheel rally of Ganajagaran Mancha Wednesday by Mancha's spokesperson Imran H Sarker.

“Tonight (Wednesday) we will stay awake… Tomorrow (Thursday) we will return with an execution verdict,” Sarker had said.

Meanwhile, all roads leading to Shahbagh have once again been barricaded off as the gathering swelled and policemen are maintaining vigil. Archways had been put up at all entrances to Shahbagh.

The International Crimes Tribunal-1 started reading out its verdict on Jamaat leader Delwar Hossain Sayedee from 10:30am.

Shahbagh protests began on Feb 5, hours after the ICT-2 pronounced life in jail for Jamaat Assistant Secretary General Abdul Quader Molla. They said the judgement was ‘too little, too late’.

The demonstration venue at Shahbagh is now known as ‘Prajanma Chattar’.

Amidst the heat of Shahbagh protests, the government made changes to the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act, 1973 providing equal scope for appeal to both prosecution and defence. The amended law can now also be used to bring an organisation or a party to trial on charges of crimes against humanity during the Liberation War.

Since the Molla verdict, Shahbagh has seen continued protests and mass signature campaign.

The Jamaat-e-Islami had also called a shutdown the day the verdict was handed down to Quader Molla. They had warned of a ‘civil war’ a day prior to the verdict.

Sarkar had Wednesday said they did not want to pressurise the government, but added that the trial should take into account popular sentiments on the issue.

“Support the mass demands… Don’t be confused… Do not be afraid,” he said.

He had urged for amendments to the law, so that ‘anti-liberation forces’ could not make it to parliament in the future.

Calls were also made to bring down all institutions, roads and schools named after the ‘anti-liberation forces’.