Imran H Sarker, convener of youth platform Gonojagoron Moncho, yesterday accused the government of neglecting the trial of war criminals.
Addressing a rally at Shahbagh, he also criticised the ruling Awami League for welcoming members of Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir into the party with floral wreaths across the country.
“It is a contradiction to the government’s actual spirit. It will obviously create obstruction to the way to create a Bangladesh free from Jamaat-Shibir-razakar,” he said.
Imran urged the government to execute the verdicts against convicted war criminals as early as possible, delivering verdicts in the pending cases including the one against Delawar Hossain Sayedee and imposing a ban on Jamaat-Shibir.
He announced that they would not backtrack from the movement until the six-point demands were met, though they would have to face oppression and attack.
One of the key organisers of Gonojagoron Moncho Badhon expressed dissatisfaction over the government’s attitude towards the platform. He said one year back, “the government tried to stop our activity but it failed and will fail in the future.”
The discussion began around 5pm at Projonmo Chattar where the platform had initiated a mass demonstration on February 5 last year demanding death penalty for all war criminals.
Among others, Chhatra Union General Secretary Lucky Akter and Chhatra Front Dhaka University unit Convener Pritilata also spoke at the function. Later they brought out a procession.
However, their programme coincided with the discussion meeting called by another faction, led by ruling party-backed Kamal Pasha, at the same place. Both the groups used loudspeakers.
Activists of the Kamal Pasha faction staged a symbolic execution of Sayedee. Speakers at the event blamed Imran for diverting the platform’s activities into other direction persuaded by some evil forces.
On the conflict, Imran at the other rally said the group led by Pasha had never been with the mainstream and was using the name of Gonojagoron Moncho. “This platform was not created to fulfil the desire of any political party,” he said.
Imran also urged not to malign the image of the platform and asked them to stage greater movement together.
Rights activist Khushi Kabir said: “The real activists of Gonojagoron Moncho are those who were with Imran as they have been continuing the movement since February 5, 2013.”
She also urged the people to be aware of those who were trying to spread distorted image of the Gonojagoron Moncho.
