Every time the International Crimes Tribunal or the Supreme Court delivered a verdict against a war criminal, they gathered at the capital’s busy Shahbagh intersection, anticipating the highest punishment.
When they get their desired outcome, they rejoice. A less than satisfactory verdict is met with protests.
It was in fact due to their overwhelming protests in February last year that the government amended an existing law so that war criminal Quader Molla, who was originally sentenced to life, could later be hanged.
But yesterday’s gathering of the Gonojagoron Moncho was different on many counts.
First of all, unlike previous gatherings, they were divided in several groups, although their demand was the same – everybody wanted the Supreme Court Appellate Division to uphold the death sentence handed down to war criminal Delawar Hossain Sayedee by the tribunal.
Second, the attitude of law enforcers was different as well. Police yesterday used force to disperse the gatherings when the protesters burst out in anger after the apex court reduced Sayedee’s punishment.
Yesterday, the anger did not come right away.
The protesters began the day chanting slogans, but upon hearing that Sayedee’s sentence was reduced to life in prison, the immediate reaction was one of shock. For a while, there was utter silence. Even the most vocal and outspoken of the protesters lost words.
But they took moments to recuperate with new slogans: “We want Sayedee hanged,” and “We reject the verdict.”
Freedom fighter Dabirul, who had come to Dhaka from the northern district of Thakurgaon a couple of days ago for treatment, could not help join the Moncho yesterday despite his illness.
He was furious after hearing the verdict: “This is not justice. Sayedee should be hanged. That is what the people of the country demand. For a freedom fighter, the trial is nothing but a farce.”
Because they were divided in several groups, yesterday’s protest by the Gonojagoron Moncho looked nothing like the intense protest that succeeded the tribunal verdict against Quader Molla. The protesters looked disorganised, and unlike some of the previous protests, no eminent personality was there.
Soon after the appellate division pronounced the verdict, hundreds of protesters blocked the Shahbagh intersection by lying on the road. Police used tear gas cannisters and water cannons to disperse the protesters. At least 50 were injured in the clashes. Police also scattered other protesters from the Doel Intersection on the Dhaka University campus.
Removed by police, the activists staged a sit-in near the Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH).
Imran H Sarker, convenor of one of the factions of Moncho, who was given first aid at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital after suffering minor injuries after clashinbg with the police, said the reduction of Sayedee’s punishment was a result of a deal between the government and Jamaat-e-Islami.
He also said: “Our countrymen have been betrayed. We urge all to join us in the protest against Sayedee’s verdict.”
Later in the day, that faction announced two programmes protesting the verdict. Blogger Arif Jebtik announced the programmes because their regular spokesperson Imran still had not recovered.
On Friday, the Moncho will organise a protest rally from 4pm-10pm at the Shahbagh intersection.
Chittagong
In the port city, soon after the apex court bench pronounced the verdict, the Chittagong unit of the Gonojagoron Moncho gathered at the Cheragi Pahar intersection.
Activists said the verdict had frustrated the people of the country, who may end up in a mass agitation programme.
Begum Mustari Shafi, wife of a liberation war martyr, said: “Sayedee will come out of jail if another party comes to power in future.”
After the rally, a procession was brought out which ended in front of the Chittagong Press Club.
