Ganajagaran Mancha stages sit-in demanding end to deadly bomb attacks

Ganajagaran Mancha has staged a sit-in demonstration at Shahbagh demanding an end to bomb attacks and killing of people.

Thursday's demonstration coincided with the gathering of the leaders of the secular platform at the key intersection two years ago demanding maximum punishment for the war criminals.

Members and activists of the Mancha started gathering at Shahbagh around 10am. Teachers, cultural activists, professionals and people from all walks of life joined them.

They raised slogans demanding an immediate halt to the ongoing arson, vandalism and other forms of violence and acts of sabotage during blockade and shutdown enforced by the BNP-led Alliance.

They also demanded death sentences for war criminals.

Ganajagaran Mancha spokesperson Imran H Sarkar said the sit-in will not stop until the violence during blockade and shutdown did.

He told bdnews24.com, "Our sit-in in protest against the violence unleashed across the country will continue.”

Accusing Jamaat-e-Islami of spreading this violence throughout Bangladesh, Sarkar said, “This organisation of war criminals talks about democracy and the people of the country. They are trying to stop the trial of war criminals by making false propaganda.”

Rejecting the life sentence of convicted war criminal and Jamaat leader Abdul Quader Molla, the mass movement at Shahbagh was launched on Feb 5, 2013 seeking maximum punishment for the convict as they felt the sentence was too lenient.

The popular movement forced an amendment to the law, allowing the prosecution a chance to appeal against the tribunal’s verdict.

After an appeal, Molla was sentenced to death and the verdict was executed the same year.

Sarkar said, “The demand on which Ganajagaran Mancha was created is still relevant.”

“Two years back we gathered here to demand death penalty for war criminals. Our demand for the same is still there.”

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia called a nonstop countrywide transport blockade on Jan 5. The BNP-Jamaat alliance has also been enforcing shutdowns intermittently.

This blockade and shutdowns have been marked by arson, vandalism, and hurling of fire-bombs, leaving more than 50 people dead.

There is widespread public concern over the enending spate of violence.

On Thursday, thousands of students went to Khaleda Zia’s Gulshan office and submitted a memorandum asking her to call off the agitations.