Mancha protests end in fracas

Violence and mudslinging marred Ganajagaran Mancha's protests against war criminal Delwar Hossain Sayedee’s reduced sentence on Friday as three factions held separate rallies in the same place and one faction later launched an assault on another.

Police again prevented one faction from taking out a procession. Mancha spokesperson Imran H Sarkar and at least five others were injured when the Kamal Pasha-led faction attacked them.

Apparently protesting on the same issue, three different factions of the Mancha held demonstrations, within 20 yards of each other, in front of the National Museum in Shahbagh.

A faction of the Mancha led by Imran staged the demonstration on the right side of the main gate of the museum.

The faction led by Kamal Pasha Chowdhury took position on the left side of the gate.

In between the two factions stood Shahbagh Andolan, a conglomeration of students’ organisations who had joined the Mancha during Shahbagh movement, led by Bangladesh Chhatra Maitri President Bappaditya Basu.

Some 13 megaphones and seven or eight heavy sound systems were placed within the 20-yard area and all were blaring at once making it impossible for any audience to understand who was saying what.

Imran alleged over the mike that the sound systems were placed towards them and that their power supply was cut off in an attempt to throttle their voices.

“When we're announcing a programme they're announcing another. When we're trying to speak they're playing music,” he said.

“Why all these efforts? So that people cannot hear our voices. No matter what you do, we're not afraid. For the trial of war criminals, Mancha will stand up to anyone or any threat,” he said.

On the other hand, Kamla Pasha gave a provocative speech, threatening the activists of the Imran-led faction.

Taking a dig at Imran he said, “Some big talks are being made from your platform. If you continue to make such talks, we will stitch your lips. We have not left our hands behind at home.”

After holding demonstrations alongside other factions, the group led by Imran took out a procession around 6pm, demanding death penalty for top Jamaat-e-Islami leader and war criminal Delwar Hossain Sayedee.

After the procession crossed Shahbagh Police Station, the law enforcers stopped it, which led to a scuffle.

In the melee, a group of activists ran towards the information centre of the Mancha.

Seeing them rushing, an activist of the Kamal Pasha-led faction who was demonstrating there, announced on the mike that Imran-led faction had launched an attack on them.

Hearing this, other members of the Pasha-led group chased the activists of the Imran-led faction brandishing sticks and chairs.

A member of their faction, Mehedi, was injured during this fight. He was later taken to hospital.

Some Pasha supporters also confronted the media persons accusing them of not paying attention towards its “critically wounded” member despite their announcement over the mike. They were carrying heavy sticks.

The situation normalised only after Imran and other injured were taken to DMCH.

Week-long protests

Earlier at the end of their demonstration, the Imran-led faction declared a week-long programme.

Imran announced that on Saturday there would be a torch procession at 6 pm, on Sunday 4pm a cultural event, on Tuesday a memorial meeting,on Wednesday songs and recitations and on Thursday a film show on the Liberation War.

The Appellate Division on Wednesday commuted the death sentence of Jamaat number two Sayedee to “imprisonment until death".

Several Ganajagaran Mancha activists, including Imran, were injured when police sprayed hot water and lobbed tear gas shells at them while they were demanding death penalty for Sayedee at Shahbagh intersection on Wednesday.

Police also prevented them from taking out a procession next evening.

However, police did not confront the Kamal Pasha faction when it held a protest on same demand at Shahbagh area after the verdict on Wednesday.

The very next day, Sahbagh Andolan too staged a protest at Shahbagh demanding Sayedee's hanging. But police did not obstruct them either. The Andolan is backed by the Workers Party, a constituent of the alliance led by ruling Awami League.