Dr Imran H Sarker, convener of the Ganajagaran Mancha has urged the government to cut diplomatic ties with Pakistan unless Islamabad apologises for condemning the execution of its collaborator, Jamaat-e-Islami leader Abdul Quader Mollah, on charges of crimes against humanity during the liberation war. Otherwise, he announced the Mancha activists would stage non-stop sit-in in front of the Pakistan High Commission at Gulshan Circle –II.
Police, however, cleared them, using batons, when some elements hurled shoes inside the chancery compound, chanting slogans against Pakistan, witnesses said.
At least three activists of the Mancha were injured in the police action on their procession that approached the Pakistan High Commission building.
Among the three injured, Bappaditya Basu, president of Bangladesh Chhatra Maitri, was admitted to United Hospital in Gulshan.
The Mancha had organised the protest against the interference of Pakistan government in the internal affairs of Bangladesh, which came following the execution of Jamaat leader Quader Mollah, commited crimes against humanity during rthe liberation war and collaborated with the Pakistani army.
Witnesses said that trouble broke out when about 3,000 Mancha activists, chanting slogans, started marching towards the high commission, around 3 pm. The police obstructed the marchers in front of Taher Tower at Gulshan-2.
Led by Imran H Sarker, the protesters, who included students and family members of the martyrs of 1971 Liberation War, set out from Gulshan-2. The protesters carried banners with slogans “Joy Bangla”, “Shame upon Pakistan” and “Pakistan must apologise for ’71?.
Ghatok Dalal Nirmul Committee acting president Shahriar Kabir, Daily Ittefaq executive editor Shahin Reza Noor, among others, were present at the protest.
Being obstructed, the protesters sat on the road, halting traffic for a few minutes. Police first requested them to move from the place, but they did not listen. Later, police charged batons, leaving at least three activists injured.
However, ignoring police barricade, hundreds of demonstrators surged ahead. But they were stopped by further police barricades in front of Al Falah Bank, at around 3:30 pm.
After a scuffle with the police, the activists entered the highly secured diplomatic zone at around 3:40 pm.
But police managed to contain them in between the Australian high commission and the embassy of Germany, where they staged a brief rally, addressed by Imran Sarker.
At this stage, some of the demonstrators sneaked in front of the Pakistan high commission, chanting slogans against Pakistan, and hurled shoes inside the high commission premises, before the police drove them away.
Addressing the procession, Sarker urged the government to immediately cut off diplomatic ties with Pakistan.
Announcing the end of Wednesday’s protest, he gave the government an ultimatum till 3 pm on Thursday to comply with the demand.
He also threatened to lay a siege to the Pakistan high commission on Thursday, if the government does not make an announcement on this issue.
Protesting police attack, he alleged that police had attacked women and freedom fighters, without any provocation.
Meanwhile, deputy commissioner of Gulshan division of DMP, Lutful Kabir, expressed sorrow over police attacks on Ganajagaran activists. Police will investigate into the incident, Kabir told The Independent.
-With The Independent input
