Youth-led public platform Gonojagoron Moncho activists have expressed frustration over the government’s compassionate view towards anti-liberation party Jamaat-e-Islami and its political and financial institutions.
From a rally on the occasion of the Independence and National Day at Shahbagh, the activists also censured the government for not implementing the six-point charter of demands submitted to the prime minister over a year ago.
A protest against life sentence of war criminal Abdul Quader Molla turned into a mass movement on February 5 last year at the Shahbagh intersection. They demanded capital punishment for all war criminals and ban on Jamaat and its students’ wing Islami Chhatra Shibir.
Their other demands include action against Jamaat’s financial organisations, establishing a permanent tribunal to try the war criminals, special directives for law enforcers to arrest and punish those involved in violence after tribunal verdicts, and action against some electronic and print media for favouring the anti-liberation party.
Spokesperson of the platform Imran H Sarker said the government was reluctant to meet their demands, while this negligence had led to strengthening the Jamaat-Shibir.
He said the government had not taken strict action against the Jamaat-Shibir cadres who carried out violence across the country following tribunal verdicts. The joint force’s operation in Satkhira, which he termed eyewash, was also not effective.
He alleged that the government was soft towards Jamaat, its wings, financial organisations and supporters, and criticised the government offices and the Awami League’s associate organisations for taking donations frequently from Jamaat-controlled organisations.
He cited the instance of Islami Bank’s Tk3 crore donations for “Lakho Konthe Sonar Bangla” event held yesterday at the National Parade Square. The government later said it would not accept the money for the particular project due to reservation of the cultural affairs ministry.
Imran also questioned the willingness of the government in holding the war crimes trials as it took around two months to appoint a chairman for International Crimes Tribunal 1 and the prosecutors lacked coordination.
He said only a few convictions did not mean justice. So far, the two tribunals have convicted 10 war criminals, of who Quader Molla has been executed after the Appellate Division cleared the appeals case. Six war crimes suspects are currently on trial while investigation is underway against several others.
Speaking at the rally, noted academician Mohammad Zafar Iqbal urged the youths to stay united for the movement with patience.
Dhaka University teacher Prof Kaberi Gayan, rights activist Khushi Kabir, tribunal prosecutor Turin Afroz, JaSad Chhatra League President Shamsul Islam Sumon and Chhatra Union General Secretary Lucky Akter also spoke at the occasion.
The activists later brought out a procession bearing national flag from Projonmo Chattar and arranged a concert where several prominent cultural personalities performed.
