Shahbagh Ganajagaran Mancha has announced a fresh programme including forming a human chain in front of Sangsad Bhaban at 4 pm on May 4, to press home their demand for banning Jamaat-e-Islami and its student outfit Islami Chhattra Shibir. Convener of the Ganajagaran Mancha, Imran H Sarkar made the announcement from a huge rally at the Shahbagh Square on Sunday evening.
The Shahbagh protesters will stage a workers’ rally on May 1 at the Shahbagh intersection and will hold countrywide mass communication campaign from Apr 20 to May 4.
On Apr 27, the central leaders will exchange views with Manchaa representatives from across the nation in Dhaka, Sarkar said adding that a sit-in demonstration will be organised in front of the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs at 11am on Apr 29 demanding initiation of the process to impose the ban on Jamaat.
Addressing the shahbagh rally, Imran Sarker paid tribute to those who lost their lives in the 2001 bomb attack at the Ramna Batamul on this day and expressed his frustration saying that the perpetrators were yet to be punished.
Blaming Jamaat for the attack, he alleged that the party along with its student affiliate Islami Chhatra Shibir left no stone unturned to stop the cultural movement.
“That’s why we made the call to outlaw Jamaat immediately,” he added.
He also paid his respect to those who were killed in a recent attack by the activists of Jamaat and Hifazat-e Islam, allegedly backed by the right-wing party, in Chittagong’s Fatikchharhi.
Sarker demanded release of the four bloggers detained recently for allegedly hurting people’s religious feelings.
“They can be tried under the existing law if they did any crime. The state is yet to prove the charges against them,” he said.
Earlier in the day, the youths held a three-minute “harmony bond” to promote communal amity on “Pahela Baishakh” and renewed their demand for death penalty to convicted war criminals.
One of the organisers of the movement, blog activist Maruf Rasul, started the countdown to the programme before the clock was about to strike 5:30 pm.
Ganajagaran Mancha also took part in the “Pahela Baishakh” celebrations at the Ramna Batamul and attended the “Mangal Shobhajatra” at 9 am.
Members and supporters of the Ganajagaran Mancha also organized a countrywide “Mangal Pradip” (“Well-being Lamp”) lighting programme called “Aloker Ei Jhornadhara” (this fountain of lights) at 7:30 pm “against all dark forces.”
In order to participate in the programme, everyone was requested to light either a “Mangal Pradip” or “Well-being Lamp” or just a candle instead.
-With The Independent input
