Multiple left-leaning student groups from Dhaka University (DU) staged a protest on Tuesday following the Supreme Court Appellate Division's acquittal of Jamaat-e-Islami leader ATM Azharul Islam, which overturned his previous death sentence issued by the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) in a war crimes case.
The demonstration began at Madhur Canteen around 5pm and moved through various parts of the campus, including the Shahbagh intersection, before concluding with a brief rally at the Raju Memorial Sculpture.
Shimul Kumbhakar, general secretary of one faction of the Bangladesh Students' Union, said the protesters witnessed the government exonerating ATM Azharul, allegedly a commander of the Al-Badr force during the Liberation War.
"Now they are claiming he supported Bangladesh. We condemn the interim administration's attempt to rewrite history after 54 years with such assertions," he added.
Referring to the political developments following the July uprising, Shimul said certain pro-Pakistani political factions from 1971, including Jamaat, Shibir, and their allies, have reappeared on the political scene.
"They are even claiming to have led the July uprising. If the interim government continues releasing Razakars and Al-Badr members and fully absolving them of their crimes, it will face the same downfall as the fascist Hasina regime," he added.
Participants included leaders and activists from the Bangladesh Students' Union, Revolutionary Student Unity, Socialist Students' Front, Democratic Students' Council, and Student Federation of Bangladesh.
Chanting slogans such as “Razakars of 1971 betrayed Bangladesh,” “Jamaat-Shibir-Razakars destroyed July,” and “Mass killers have no place in the Bangladesh of '71,” protesters marched toward Shahbagh.
Police allegedly attempted to block the march at the Shahbagh crossing, but demonstrators reportedly pushed past the obstruction and continued to the Raju Memorial Sculpture.
However, Khalid Monsur, officer-in-charge of Shahbagh police station, denied any police interference, saying he was unaware of any such directive.
Jabir Ahmed Jubel, general secretary of Revolutionary Student Unity, said: "We witnessed someone who was sentenced to death on three separate counts now being cleared of all charges."
"The people of this nation will never forget 1971. Any administration that supports those who committed genocide under the pretext of an uprising will be rejected by the public," he added.
