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| title = Shahbag Protest of 2013 | ||
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| The '''Shahbag Protest of 2013 in Bangladesh''' is a gathering of some thousand protesters in the Shahbag area of the capital city of Dhaka, Bangladesh, that began on Tuesday, February 5th, 2013 in ], ], with the demand of capital punishment for ] and the other accused war criminals of the 1971 ], in general, but due to confusion regarding leadership (even though the ruling party, ], claims the protest as their own, many have joined the protest who don't support any particular political party and are unaware of the complicated legal and/or constitutional provisions and procedures involved), the specific demands of the protesters and how to achieve them are not yet clear and is a popular topic in the media, the talk shows and the academia. | |||
| The '''Shahbag Mass Movement of 2013 in Bangladesh''' began on Tuesday February 5th, 2013 in ], ], with the demand of capital punishment for ] and all the other accused war criminals of the 1971 ]. <ref name=reuters-1>{{cite news|title=Protesters demand death for Bangladesh war crimes Islamist|url=http://in.reuters.com/article/2013/02/06/bangladesh-verdict-war-idINDEE9150CS20130206|accessdate=8 February 2013|newspaper=]|date=6 February, 2013}}</ref><ref name=Alj-1>{{cite news|title=Thousands in Bangladesh war crimes protest|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/asia/2013/02/201327181442185887.html|accessdate=8 February 2013|newspaper=]|date=7 February 2013}}</ref> People of all ages gathered here everyday to support this movement. Abdul Quader Mollah was charged with abetting the Pakistani army; actively participating in the 1971 atrocities in Bangladesh; rape (including the rape of minors); and mass murder of Bangladeshis in the ] area of Dhaka during the Liberation War of Bangladesh. The many grievous attrocities committed by him during the Liberation War of Bangladesh earned him the nickname of ''Mirpurer Koshai'' (মিরপুরের কসাই) — Butcher of Mirpur.<ref name=bbcnews-1/> On February 5, 2013, the ] of Bangladesh sentenced Abdul Quader Mollah to life in prison after he was proved guilty in five out of the six charges against him.<ref name="thedailystar2">"", ''The Daily Star'', 6 February 2013</ref> Within hours of the verdict, mass discontent broke out in Bangladesh where most people were expecting capital punishment for Mollah.<ref>"", ''The Daily Star'', 6 February 2013</ref><ref>"", ''The Daily Star'', 6 February 2013</ref><ref>"", ''The Daily Star'', 7 February 2013</ref> The bloggers and online activists gave voice to the public opinion and called for a mass demonstration at the ] intersection in central Dhaka.<ref name=Priyo_compilation>{{cite news|title=Compilation of Shahbag Movement: A new Sun Uplifts|url=http://news.priyo.com/2013/shahbag-square.html|newspaper=Priyo.com|date=Monday, February 11, 2013}}</ref> People from all walks of life spontaneously joined the protest and the demonstration culminated into the 2013 Shahbag movement.<ref>"", ''The Daily Star'', 7 February 2013</ref> The intersection is currently being referred to as '']'' (প্রজন্ম চত্ত্বর) - 'New Generation Circle' in English - after the new generation credited with initiating such a spontaneous yet robust movement. It has also been referred to as Shahbag Square in a nod to the historic and revolutionary events which unfolded in ] in ]. Thousands have been holding day and night vigils at Shahbag refusing to leave until Mollah and other war criminals get capital punishment.<ref name=bdnews-3>{{cite news|title=Masses rally for death sentence to all war criminals|url=http://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2013/02/08/masses-rally-for-death-sentence-to-all-war-criminals|accessdate=9 February 2013|newspaper=]|date=Wednesday, February 8, 2013}}</ref> | |||
| == |
==Legal Issues== | ||
| {{See also|1971 Bangladesh atrocities|Razakars (Bangladesh)}} | |||
| It is not a protest about bringing the accused to trial but a demand for some specific punishment. It still remains to be clarified as to how it is that the protesters want the government to influence the verdict of a court, how it is that a court can be bound by a some pre-decided non-judicial verdict, or whether being accused itself is a sufficient criterion for guilt. The government has promised to start fresh trials with provisions for death penalty for the accused this time, but this gave rise to further concerns among the intellectual circles of Bangladesh as to why the initial trial was not conducted under such provisions. A second trial would conflict with the basic principle of law that a person cannot be tried twice for the same offense. For some, a more viable option that is left is for the prosecution to appeal to superior courts, and wait for the judges there to take the sentiment of the protesters into account. Nevertheless, even that would be a matter of time, and many are finding it difficult to ascertain as to what could immediately be offered to the ongoing protests.<ref name=reuters-1>{{cite news|title=Protesters demand death for Bangladesh war crimes Islamist|url=http://in.reuters.com/article/2013/02/06/bangladesh-verdict-war-idINDEE9150CS20130206|accessdate=8 February 2013|newspaper=]|date=6 February, 2013}}</ref><ref name=Alj-1>{{cite news|title=Thousands in Bangladesh war crimes protest|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/asia/2013/02/201327181442185887.html|accessdate=8 February 2013|newspaper=]|date=7 February 2013}}</ref> | |||
| The background of this protest goes back to the 1971 ], in which the then ] and ] fought against ]. The armed conflict ended on 16 December 1971 and resulted in the formation of ] as a free and independent state. Many atrocious and dreadful crimes were committed by the West Pakistan army and their supporters.<ref name=Blood959></ref><ref name=Blood978></ref><ref name=Blood986></ref> ] reported a high ranking U.S. official as saying "It is the most incredible, calculated thing since the days of the ]s in ]."<ref name="PakistanThe">, ], 1971-08-02</ref> More than three million people were killed, nearly a quarter of a million women were raped, and over 10 million people were forced to take refuge in India to escape brutal persecution at home.<ref name="portsmouth_herald">"3 MILLION Slaughtered Sheik MUJIB Charges 'Greatest Massacre'" The Portsmouth Herald, Monday, 17 January 1972, Portsmouth, New Hampshire</ref><ref name=rape-1>{{cite news|title=Bangladesh war crimes stir tension|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7470000.stm|accessdate=9 February 2013|date=30 June 2008}}</ref> During the struggle, a paramilitary force called '']'' was created under the ''Razakar Ordinance'' promulgated in May 1971 by the Governor of East Pakistan, Lieutenant General ]. The Ordinance stipulates the creation of a voluntary force to be trained and equipped by the Provincial Government.<ref>The Dacca Gazette Extraordinary, Aug 2, 1971. Available at http://www.icsforum.org/library/files/420_GovernmentofEastPakistan1971.pdf</ref> | |||
| ==Historical Context and Development of the Protest== | |||
| The term ''Razakar'' (رضا کار) is an ] word meaning "Volunteer" but it became a disgraceful term in the ] language due to the shameful acts of betrayal to the homeland and the atrocities the ''Razakars'' committed or facilitated during the war. The perpetrators of the crimes were never brought to book, and this left an unfathomable abrasion on the country's political awareness and the whole nation.<ref name="Brief background history">{{cite news|title=Summary of verdict in Quader Mollah case|url=http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=268072|accessdate=9 February 2013|newspaper=The Daily Star|date=06 February 2013}}</ref> | |||
| Abdul Quader Mollah was charged with abetting the Pakistani army; actively participating in the 1971 atrocities in Bangladesh; rape (including the rape of minors); and mass murder of Bangladeshis in the ] area of Dhaka during the Liberation War of Bangladesh. In 1973, he, along with others, was pardoned as part of a general amnesty issued by the ] government at that time, headed by ] due to some legal complexities surrounding the issue. After forty years, the present ] government under ] resumed the trial of some of the accused by setting up a special tribunal, naming it the ], to win back the support of the public amidst massive dissatisfaction regarding ] rule since 2009. On February 5, 2013, the ] of Bangladesh sentenced Mollah to life in prison after he was proved guilty in five out of the six charges against him.<ref name="thedailystar2">"", ''The Daily Star'', 6 February 2013</ref> Within hours of the verdict, an online community, Blogger and Online Activists Network (BOAN), whose activity has been praised by the present government, successfully managed to publicize its event to protest the verdict, to be held at Shahbag, primarily with the help of the social networking site Facebook. Initially members of the ], the student wing of ] started the protest, but soon was joined by many neutral people who wanted revenge for the 1971 war time activities of ], and also by passive but curious observers, or those who just wanted to be a part of the protest never mind its agenda, when the mainstream media covered the protest at Shahbag nationwide through the TV channels, with statements such as "the nation is getting united in the manner of Tahrir Sqaure".<ref>"", ''The Daily Star'', 6 February 2013</ref><ref>"", ''The Daily Star'', 6 February 2013</ref><ref>"", ''The Daily Star'', 7 February 2013</ref> The protest has continued since then. | |||
| During the Liberation War, the majority of the people of the then East Pakistan supported and participated in the call to free Bangladesh. But a small number of Bangalees, Biharis, other pro-Pakistanis, as well as members of a number of different fundamentalist political parties, particularly Jamat-e-Islami (JEI) and its student wing Islami Chatra Sangha (ICS), Muslim League, Pakistan Democratic Party (PDP) Council Muslim League, Nejam-e-Islami joined and/or collaborated with the Pakistan occupation army to aggressively resist the formation of independent Bangladesh. Most of them committed and facilitated the commission of atrocities in violation of customary international law in the territory of Bangladesh. The workers belonging to purely Islami Chatra Sangha were called ], the people belonging to Jamaat-e-Islami, Muslim League, Nizam-e-Islami, etc were called Al-Shams and the Urdu-speaking generally known as Bihari were called Al-Mujahid.<ref name="Brief Historical Background">{{cite news|title=Summary of verdict in Quader Mollah case|url=http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=268072|accessdate=08 February 2013|newspaper=The Daily Star|date=06 February}}</ref> | |||
| ==Views About the Protest== | |||
| ===Trial attempts=== | |||
| {{See also|1971 Bangladesh atrocities #War crimes trial attempts}} | |||
| The Bangladesh Collaborators (Special Tribunals) Order 1972 was promulgated to bring to trial those Bangladeshis who collaborated with and aided the Pakistan Armed forces during the Liberation War of 1971.<ref>President’s Order No. 8 of 1972 (1972) (Bangl.); Collaborators (Special Tribunals) | |||
| Order (1972) (Bangl.).</ref> There are conflicting accounts of the number of persons brought to trial under the 1972 Collaborators Order, ranging between 10,000 and 40,000.<ref name="S. Linton 2010 p. 205">S. Linton,Criminal Law Forum (2010), p. 205.</ref> At the time, the trials were considered precarious by local and external observers, as they appear to have been used for carrying out political vendettas. R. MacLennan, a British MP who was an observer at the trials stated that 'In the dock, the defendants are scarcely more pitiable than the succession of confused prosecution witnesses driven (by the 88-year old defence counsel) to admit that they, too, served the Pakistan government but are now ready to swear blind that their real loyalty was to the government of Bangladesh in exile.'<ref>A. Mascarenhas, 'Bangladesh: A Legacy of Blood', Hodder and Stoughton, 1986, p. 25.</ref> | |||
| Opinions vary regarding motives, the method and the outcome of the protest. In Bangladesh, there are many who are supporting the protest strongly, many of whom are ordinary citizens, while many are also supporters of ]. Those who do not want the government to hijack the protest for their own purposes have tried to prevent government officials from speaking in the protest. But government supporters are also active and have physically injured a female protester for trying to prevent a government official to speak in the protest.<ref name=reuters-1>{{cite news|title=Protesters demand death for Bangladesh war crimes Islamist|url=http://tazakhobor.com/politics/2802-bnp-gives-its-formal-statement-on-shahbag-protest|accessdate=8 February 2013|newspaper=]|date=6 February, 2013}}</ref> | |||
| The Government of Bangladesh issued a general amnesty on November 30, 1973, applying to all persons except | |||
| those who were punished or accused of rape, murder, attempt of murder or arson.<ref name="S. Linton 2010 p. 205"/> The Collaborators Order 1972 was revoked in 1975. | |||
| The second group of people are supporters of ], who are openly denouncing the protest as a plot instigated by the ruling ] to neutralize political opponents and to divert anti-government sentiments before the coming of the next general elections. They are affirming their democratic right to participate in politics, which, many protesters believe, they do not have. They claim that the initial tribunal set up by ] was not fair enough, proven by the abduction of defense witnesses by law enforcers, and the sensitive information regarding the trial process leaked when a ] conference of the chairman of the tribunal went public. They claim that their few central leaders have been accused retrospectively for crimes committed by many localized individuals during the 1971 wars. They also claim that the passing of the life sentence in the initial trial was intentional and influenced by the government, as a protest supporting government cause was what the government wanted most to achieve from it, which would eventually enable them to achieve not only the elimination political opposition, but also to show public support for it, as well as neutralize massive anti-government sentiments that arose during their rule since 2009. They claim that the breadth and scope of the protest are being highly exaggerated and publicized by elements of the government, and some have even threatened the government with civil war. | |||
| The International Crimes (Tribunals) Act 1973 was promulgated to prosecute any persons, irrespective of nationality, accused of committing crimes against peace, crimes against humanity, war crimes, | |||
| ‘‘violations of any humanitarian rules applicable in armed conflicts laid out in the ]’’ and ‘‘any other crimes under international law’’.<ref>S. Linton,Criminal Law Forum (2010), p. 206.</ref> Detainees held under the 1972 Collaborators order who were not released by the general amnesty of 1973 were going to be tried under this Act. However, no trials were actually held, and all activities related to the Act ceased after the ] in 1975. | |||
| A third group of people have appreciated the spirit of the protest, but believe that singling out only the capital punishment of the criminals of 1971 among hundreds of other issues bothering the country today would be an immature policy to adopt and would only benefit the cause of ], when in reality the major cause of the crisis in Bangladesh today are the activities of the two political parties. They believe that all issues haunting the country should now be put together and the energy channeled towards a real change in national politics. | |||
| There are no known instances of criminal investigations or trials outside of Bangladesh of alleged perpetrators of war crimes during the 1971 war. Initial steps were taken by the ] to investigate individuals resident in the United Kingdom who were alleged to have committed war crimes in a ] documentary film aired in 1995. To date, no charges have been brought against these individuals.<ref>REDRESS, Torture in Bangladesh 1971-2004: Making International Commitments a Reality and Providing Justice and Reparations to Victims, August 2004, available at: http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/4bf3a6e92.html </ref> | |||
| ==International coverage== | |||
| ] | |||
| Since 2009, under ], Bangladesh has suffered some downturns in international relations, and it is yet to be seen how the international community reacts to the protest at Shahbag. Till date, international media has tried cover the situation in Bangladesh and Shahbag through a more neutral perspective. | |||
| {{See also| International Crimes Tribunal (Bangladesh)|International Crimes Tribunal Timeline}} | |||
| In 2008, just before the ], majority of the people in Bangladesh, especially the youth, became very concerned of justice to the victims of the crimes committed during the ] in 1971 and felt the necessity of trying those criminals even 38 years after independence of the country.<ref>{{Cite news | |||
| | title = Dhaka body lists `war criminals’ of 1971 | |||
| | pages = | |||
| | newspaper = The Indian | |||
| | location = | |||
| | date = Fri 04 April 2008 | |||
| | url = http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/uncategorized/dhaka-body-lists-war-criminals-of-1971_10034353.html | |||
| | accessdate = 2010-09-19}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | |||
| | title = Bangladesh's Unfinished Revolution | |||
| | pages = | |||
| | newspaper = Thaindian News | |||
| | location = Dhaka | |||
| | date = July 11, 2008 | |||
| | url =http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2008/07/02/ca.htm | |||
| | accessdate = 2010-09-19}}</ref> As it became a national demand ]-led 14-party alliance included this in their election manifesto.<ref name="ictformed"/> The other large alliance, namely 4-party alliance including ] and ], had several alleged war criminals as their top ranking politicians.<ref>, The Daily Prothom Alo, 31 December 2008, collected from </ref> The freedom fighters and sector commanders of the liberation war pleaded not to cast vote for the alleged war criminals.<ref>, The Daily Prothom Alo, 27 December 2008</ref> The 14-part alliance won the election, held on December 29, 2008, with an overwhelming majority mainly because of their vows to prosecute war criminals.<ref name="guardian">Julhas Alam, "", The Guardian, December 21, 2011</ref><ref>{{Cite news | |||
| | title = A historic landslide for Hasina | |||
| | url = http://bdnews24.com/details.php?id=121635&cid=30 | |||
| | newspaper = bdnews24.com | |||
| | location =Dhaka | |||
| | date = Tuesday, Dec 30th, 2008 | |||
| | accessdate = 2010-09-19}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | |||
| | title = Awami League wins Bangladesh election | |||
| | url = http://articles.cnn.com/2008-12-30/world/bangladesh.elections_1_hasina-bangladesh-election-awami-league?_s=PM:WORLD | |||
| | newspaper = CNN | |||
| | location = | |||
| | date = December 30, 2008 | |||
| | accessdate = 2010-09-19}}</ref> | |||
| On 29 January 2009 Mahmud-us-Samad Chowdhury, a member of the parliament (MP) from Awami League (AL), put forward the proposal to take action regarding the trial of war criminals during a session of the ]. Other members of the party seconded the proposal and finally a resolution was passed unanimously calling on the government to ensure immediate trial of the war criminals.<ref>"", ''The Daily Star'', 30 January 2009</ref> In 1973 the newly independent government of Bangladesh passed a law called the ''International Crimes (Tribunals) Act'' (ICT Act 1973) to investigate and prosecute the persons responsible for genocide<ref name=genocidebd>{{cite web|first=Rezwan|title=Bangladesh Genocide Archive|url=http://www.genocidebangladesh.org/|work=genocidebangladesh.org|accessdate=12 February 2013}}</ref> , crimes against humanity, war crimes and other crimes under ] committed in 1971. The Act was a complete law in itself, "providing the substantive law, definition of crimes, procedures to follow, provisions of evidence, constitution of the Tribunal, obligation of the Judges to be independent and to ensure fair trial standards, including the rights of the accused, rules to monitor investigations and interrogations, supervising arrest and viability of continued detention, rules to protect the witnesses and victims, rules regarding appeal after conviction, and the rule making authority of the judges etc."<ref>, Meeting on Bangladesh: Exchange of Views on War Crimes Trials and on Accountability Issues, 31 January 2012</ref> | |||
| On March 25, 2009 the government decided to try the war criminals according to the ICT Act 1973<ref>, The Daily Star, 26 March 2009</ref> | |||
| <ref name="lawcom">{{cite web | |||
| |url= http://www.lawcommissionbangladesh.org/reports/87.pdf | |||
| |title=Opinion of the Law Commission on the technical aspects of the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act, 1973 (Act No. XIX of 1973 | |||
| |accessdate=2010-09-19 | |||
| }}</ref> but with some amendments to make it more up to date. As a part of the amendment procedure govt. sent the Act to the Law Commission where it was scrutinised by specialist lawyers, judges and professors of the universities.<ref name="lawcom"/><ref>{{Cite news | |||
| | title = Int'l law on war crimes trial being updated: Shafiq | |||
| | url = http://bdnews24.com/details.php?id=133272&cid=3 | |||
| | newspaper = bdnews24.com | |||
| | location =Dhaka, Bangladesh | |||
| | date =Thu, May 21st, 2009 | |||
| | accessdate = 2010-09-19}}</ref> According to the recommendations made by the Law Commission some aspects of the ICT Act 1973 were amended by the legislation on 9 July 2009.<ref name="amend">{{Cite news | |||
| | title = Law amended for war crime trials | |||
| | url = http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=96243 | |||
| | newspaper = The Daily Star | |||
| | location = Dhaka, Bangladesh | |||
| | date = 10 July 2009}}</ref> With inclusion of the new provisions, trial of a political party that worked against the liberation of Bangladesh could also be held on the same charge and the government was also empowered to file appeals with the Appellate Division against acquittal order of a tribunal.<ref name="amend"/> | |||
| Finally on the eve of the 39th anniversary of ], the genocide<ref name=genocidebd /> committed by the Pakistani army, the government announced the formation of a 3-member tribunal, 7-member investigation agency and 12-member prosecution team to hold the trial under the ICT Act 1973 on March 25, 2010. This landmark announcement for Bangladesh actually came just seven hours before the moment the massacre was committed on the night of March 25, 1971.<ref name="ictformed">"", The Daily Star, March 26, 2010</ref><ref name="BdST"> | |||
| {{cite news|last=St|first=Bd|title=Prosecutor begins statement against SQ Chy|url=http://bdnews24.com/details.php?cid=2&id=223797|newspaper=BD News 24|date=3, May 2012}}</ref> | |||
| The three man judge's panel appointed were Mohammed Nizamul Huq as chairman with A.T.M. Fazle Kabir and A.K.M. Zahir Ahmed being appointed the other seats.<ref name="Chair"> | |||
| {{cite news|last=IANS|title=We will wait, watch: Jamaat on war crimes trial|url=http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/politics/we-will-wait-watch-jamaat-on-war-crimes-trial_100339663.html|newspaper=Thaindian News|date=26, March 2010}} | |||
| </ref> | |||
| The members appointed to the investigative agency who were tasked with assisting the state prosecutors are. Abdul Matin, Abdur Rahim, Kutubur Rahman, ASM Shamsul Arefin, Mir Shahidul Islam, Nurul Islam and M Abdur Razzak Khan.<ref name="UNBconnect"> | |||
| {{cite news|last=Connect|first=UNB|title=War Crimes Tribunal constituted, prosecutors, investigation agency named|url=http://www.unbconnect.com/component/news/task-show/id-17173|newspaper=UNBconnect|date=25, March 2010}} | |||
| </ref> | |||
| Golam Arif Tipu was named as Chief Prosecutor. The others are, Syed Rezaur Rahman, Golam Hasnayen, Rana Das Gupta, Zahirul Huq, Nurul Islam Sujan, Syed Haider Ali, Khandaker Abdul Mannan, Mosharraf Hossain Kajal, Ziad Al-Malum, Sanjida Khanom and Sultan Mahmud Semon.<ref name="UNBconnect" /> | |||
| ===Verdicts=== | |||
| ], the most recent of the war criminals to be found guilty, had a 'formal charge' filed by the Prosecution on 18 December 2011 in the form of petition as required under Section 9(1) of the Act of 1073 against accused Abdul Quader Mollah.<ref name="Brief background history" /> On February 5, 2013, ] found him guilty of crimes against humanity during the war for independence from Pakistan in 1971.<ref name="thedailystar2"/><ref name=guardian-1>{{cite news|title=Bangladesh jails Islamic party leader for life|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/feb/05/bangladesh-jails-islamic-leader|accessdate=6 February 2013|newspaper=]|date=Tuesday 5 February 2013}}</ref> | |||
| Abdul Quader Mollah was charged with the following - | |||
| * '''1.''' Pallab Murder | |||
| * '''2.''' Killing pro-liberation poet Meherunnesa and her mother and two brothers | |||
| * '''3.''' Khandoker Abu Taleb Killing | |||
| * '''4.''' Ghatar Char and Bhawal Khan Bari killing | |||
| * '''5.''' Alubdi Mass Killing (344 people) | |||
| * '''6.''' Hazrat Ali and his family members killing and rape. | |||
| He was found guilty in all of the aforementioned charges expect for Charge no. 4. His verdict declared life imprisonment in two cases (5 and 6) and 15-year-jail in 3 cases (1, 2 and 3).<ref name="Brief background history" /> | |||
| Within hours of the verdict, ], the fundamentalist political party of which Mollah is a leader, announced a countrywide dawn-to-dusk shutdown for the day, to protest against their leader's punishment.<ref name=bdnews24-1>{{cite news|title=66 held during violence-marred Jamaat strike |url=http://bdnews24.com/politics/2013/02/05/66-held-during-violence-marred-jamaat-strike|accessdate=8 February 2013|newspaper=]|date=Wednesday, February 5, 2013}}</ref> During this very time, Bangladeshi social media users and general people, dissatisfied with the International Crimes Tribunal verdict, marked it as a ‘lenient’ sentence. Following the verdict, there have been numerous postings on Facebook and Twitter and in blogs denouncing the judgment and demanding death penalty for him. One Facebook user wrote on his status: “Come to Shahbagh, even if you are scared of the troubles on the street. You’ll find so many people by you to demand trial of the anti-liberation hyenas and vultures. Just forget what will happen. Just say that you demand death penalty (for the war criminals). You have the courage to raise your voice with others in this demand.”<ref name=bdnews24-2>{{cite news|title= Protest gets social media boost |url=http://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2013/02/06/protest-gets-social-media-boost|accessdate=8 February 2013|newspaper=]|date=Wednesday, February 6, 2013}}</ref> | |||
| ==Development of Protest== | |||
| ===Protests start February 5 Tuesday=== | |||
| ]]] | |||
| The protests started just a few hours after the verdict was announced when an online activists’ group, Blogger and Online Activists Network (BOAN), gave a call<ref>{{cite news |title= মৃত্যুদণ্ড না হওয়ায় হতাশা, ক্ষোভ|author= Personal Correspondent|url= http://www.prothom-alo.com/detail/date/2013-02-06/news/327133 |newspaper= Prothom Alo|date=6 February 2013 |accessdate=12 February 2013}}</ref> through social networks to start protesting the verdict. The activists, along with people from blogs and social networking sites, rejected the verdict and started protesting on Tuesday afternoon at Shahbag Chottor or 'Projonmo Chottor' . The demonstrators painted murals on the road, drew cartoons and hanged effigies of war crime suspects, including Mollah, with a vow to continue the protest until their demands were met. | |||
| ===Protest Ramp up=== | |||
| The third day of the sit-in protest started with the demonstrators singing ] from 8am. More and more people gathered carrying banners, posters, and placards in Shahbag Chottor with the same demand as the news of the protest spread through the social media.<ref name=ireport-AiSajib>{{cite news|last=Sajib|first=Aminul Islam|title=The Spirit of '71 Rises at Shahbag Square in Dhaka|url=http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-922072|accessdate=12 February 2013|newspaper=CNN|date=7 February 2013}}</ref> | |||
| A public ] was set up at Shahbag Chottor with ] giving people access to high speed internet for providing live online coverage. | |||
| ===Mass Rally on 8 February=== | |||
| On Friday afternoon, a mass rally was called at Shahbag Square.<ref></ref> It is estimated that several hundred thousand people attended the rally. Dr Zafar Iqbal addressed the rally, praising the young generation and apologizing for previously underestimating their ability to mobilize. | |||
| ===Countrywide 3-minute silence on 12 February=== | |||
| One week after the protests began, a 3-minute silence was observed at Shahbag and all across Bangladesh on February 12, 2013.<ref></ref> In Dhaka, the traffic was stopped, and thousands of people flocked to the streets, formed human chains and stood in silence. The ongoing game at ] (BPL) at ] halted for three minutes as the players and the supporters observed silence. The parliamentarians and the police force also joined the protest. It became a part of history. <ref name=DS-silence1>{{cite news|title=A silence stronger than words|url=http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/latest_news.php?nid=44729|accessdate=12 February 2013|newspaper=]|date=Tuesday, February 12, 2013}}</ref> | |||
| ===Symbols=== | |||
| ] | |||
| The Shahbag Mass Movement sets a unique example in terms of the means of protests. Thousands of talented youths sang patriotic songs, recited poems; some arranged for screening of films on the history of the Liberation War. Many activists shared their experiences and updated the events online; a few got together and filmed a three-minute documentary on the premises over the last four days. "Join the Fight" is the title of the documentary, where a brief history of The Liberation War was also narrated. | |||
| Colorful street arts, face paintings and bandanas, candles and flower petals representing the map of Bangladesh, etc. added to the slogans and the banners.<ref>{{cite news|title=The Daily Star|url=http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=268447}}</ref> | |||
| ==Demands== | |||
| {{Expand section|date=February 2013}} | |||
| * Demand capital punishment for ].<ref name=bbcnews-1>{{cite news|title=Huge Bangladesh rally seeks death penalty for War Crimes|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-21383632|accessdate=9 February 2013|newspaper=]|date=8 February, 2013}}</ref><ref name=washingtonpost-1>{{cite news|title=Hundreds of thousands rally in Bangladesh to demand executions of 1971 war crimes suspects|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/hundreds-of-thousands-rally-in-bangladesh-to-demand-executions-of-1971-war-crimes-suspects/2013/02/08/7fb5c27c-7208-11e2-b3f3-b263d708ca37_story.html?fb_action_ids=10151413638168744&fb_action_types=og.recommends&fb_ref=sm_btn_fb&fb_source=other_multiline&action_object_map=%7B%2210151413638168744%22%3A475331549200338%7D&action_type_map=%7B%2210151413638168744%22%3A%22og.recommends%22%7D&action_ref_map=%7B%2210151413638168744%22%3A%22sm_btn_fb%22%7D|accessdate=9 February 2013|newspaper=]|date=8 February, 2013}}</ref><ref name=newstrackindia-1>{{cite news|title=Protesters continue to demand death penalty for Bangladesh war criminal Abdul Quader Mollah|url=http://www.newstrackindia.com/newsdetails/2013/02/08/332-Protesters-continue-to-demand-death-penalty-for-Bangladesh-war-criminal-Abdul-Quader-Mollah.html|accessdate=9 February 2013|newspaper=]|date=8 February, 2013}}</ref> | |||
| * Demand capital punishment for all war criminals.<ref name=bdnews-1>{{cite news|title=Teeming thousands chant ‘Hang them all’|url=http://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2013/02/08/teeming-thousands-chant-hang-them-all|accessdate=9 February 2013|newspaper=]|date=8 February, 2013}}</ref><ref name=abcnews-1>{{cite news|title=Bangladesh Protest Calls for Death for War Crimes|url=http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/bangladesh-protest-calls-death-war-crimes-18440258|accessdate=9 February 2013|newspaper=]|date=8 February, 2013}}</ref><ref name=zeenews-1>{{cite news|title=Nationwide protests in B'desh; death for war criminals demanded|url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/south-asia/nationwide-protests-in-b-desh-death-for-war-criminals-demanded_827899.html|accessdate=9 February 2013|newspaper=]|date=9 February, 2013}}</ref> | |||
| * Ban Jamaat from politics.<ref name="thedailystar1"/><ref name=bdnews-2 /> | |||
| * Boycott all Jamaat institutions<ref name=autogenerated2>{{cite news|title=Vow to boycott Jamaat institutions|url= http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/latest_news.php?nid=44637|accessdate=9 February 2013|newspaper= |date=9 February, 2013}}</ref> | |||
| ===Oath of Shahbag Square movement=== | |||
| {{cquote|"We swear an oath that the leadership of mass people from the Gonojagaran Mancha will continue the movement from Teknaf to Tetulia until capital punishment is handed down on those ''Razakar'' and Al-Badr members who committed crimes against humanity like mass killing and rape in 1971. We take the oath that we will remain vocal both on the streets and online until politics of war criminal Jamaat-Shibir is not banned and nationality of their members not cancelled. We further take the oath that we will continue demonstration demanding trial under a special tribunal of those ''Razakars'' and Al-Badr activists who were convicted and under trial but freed after 1975. We swear that we will boycott the war criminals' business entities -- Islami Bank, Ibn Sina, Focus, Retina and different other coaching centres. We know through these they collect money to continue with anti-liberation activities. We will also boycott the academic and cultural organisations through which they are spreading anti-liberation sentiments among the children. In brief, we will work for banning all the business, social and cultural organisations belonging to ''Razakars'' and Al-Badr activists. We swear that we will continue with our demand of stringent punishment to Jamaat and Shibir, who have committed crimes of sedition by threatening a civil war, after making their immediate arrest by recognising them through video footages and newspaper pictures. We swear that we will boycott war criminals' mass media like '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', ''Sonar Bangla Blog''. We will not subscribe to newspapers of war criminals at any office or house. At the same time, we will request the pro-liberation mass media to boycott war criminals and their accomplices."<ref></ref>}} | |||
| ==Timeline of Protest== | |||
| * February 5 - Molla gets sentenced to life imprisonment. Initial gathering of protesters in Shahbag. | |||
| * February 6-7 - Protests intensify, crowds grow bigger, other cities and towns pick up protest. Diaspora Bangladeshis, student communities abroad also begin to register their protest. | |||
| * February 8 Friday - Hundreds of thousands attend afternoon rally in Shahbag and nationwide. Dr Zafar Iqbal and others address the crowds. | |||
| * February 9-10 - Protest continues countrywide. | |||
| * February 12 - 3-minute silence observed in Shahbag and all across the country<ref>http://www.banglanews24.com/English/detailsnews.php?nssl=1d5a8f3fc1cd6456ce1ff397a430363f&nttl=1202201364011</ref>.<ref>http://www.banglanews24.com/English/detailsnews.php?nssl=b4d6cca6f8d9376fd31be2a6c28f308b&nttl=1102201363959</ref> Shibir attempts to disrupt with mid-day rally. | |||
| ==Media Coverage== | |||
| ===Domestic media=== | |||
| Domestic media covered this event widely. While most media outlets have been following the development of the situation since the earliest moments, some pro-] news outlets reported the movement as being some kind of "well-orchestrated play made by the government." | |||
| In ], ] cable operators have stopped broadcasting pro-] television channel '']'', to show solidarity to the protests.<ref>{{cite news|title=Srimangal cable operators stop broadcasting Diganta television|url=http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/latest_news.php?nid=44661|accessdate=11 February 2013|newspaper='']''|date=10 February, 2013}}</ref> | |||
| ===Coverage by international media=== | |||
| ],<ref></ref> ],<ref></ref> ] News,<ref></ref> ],<ref name="reuters2"></ref> ],<ref></ref> and others have published news about this movement in their respective sites. BBC eventually changed their main title after Bangladeshi citizens took to ], ] and ] to point out several inaccuracies. The Bangla version of BBC has been closely following the events. They have several articles as well as audio interview of protesters in Shahbag posted in their page.<ref name="বাংলাদেশে যুদ্ধাপরাধীদের ফাঁসির দাবিতে শাহবাগে পঞ্চম দিনের মতো বিক্ষোভ চলছে">{{cite web|title=Follow up of the events by BBC Banga|url=http://www.bbc.co''.uk/bengali/news/2013/02/130208_fa_shahbag.shtml|publisher=BBC|accessdate=9 February 2013}}</ref><ref name="শাহবাগের বিক্ষোভ থেকে একজন">{{cite web|title=Interview with a protester from Shahbagh|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/bengali/multimedia/2013/02/130207_pg_activist_shahbagh_intv.shtml|publisher=BBC|accessdate=9 February 2013}}</ref> Reuters photographer Andrew Biraj has published some live photo also. | |||
| ===Online petition=== | |||
| A petition named has started on '''', an online petition site, where thousands of people are signing the petition.<ref>{{cite news | | |||
| title = Kader Molla Should be Sentenced to Death | url = http://www.causes.com/actions/1729803-kader-molla-should-be-sentenced-to-death}} Petition on Causes.com</ref> | |||
| ===Contributions of Facebook=== | |||
| Being the most popular social networking site among Bangladeshis home and abroad, ] played the most important role to spread the news worldwide about the progress of events happening at Shahbag. In fact, it was due to the recurrent sharing of posts from bloggers and different Facebook Pages that people started to attend events at Shahbag, and also inspired people everywhere else to show solidarity with equal motivation. Some factions, however, have been using the same tool to provoke controversy and false threads against this movement to mark it as staged, obscene and political. Rather such diversions were mostly dealt with similar fury only comparable to that at the Shahbag Square. | |||
| ===#Shahbag on Twitter=== | |||
| Elsewhere, people from Bangladesh and all over the world are tweeting with '''#shahbag<ref></ref>''' hashtag with live update of this movement, on social network ]. The movement can be viewed in a visual way by visiting (a website dedicated to this movement) . In addition, the events at Shahbag have seen the growing popularity of local social networking websites, such as ''Beshto.com'' and ''Somewhere In...Blog''. For people who couldn't be at Shahbag for various reasons, especially for people living abroad, a live coverage was broadcast online by means of free broadcasting websites like ] and JagoBD. | |||
| ==Reactions== | |||
| ===Domestic responses=== | |||
| ] | |||
| The protest started by the activists has resonated with the masses and people of all strata have come out in great numbers to support this cause. People all over Bangladesh are demanding the capital punishment of the convicted war criminal Abdul Quader Mollah.<ref name="reuters-1" /> The major demonstration led by online bloggers, activists and general students is being widely accepted and joined in by people from all walks of life.<ref></ref> Political figures including ministers and MPs (Members of Parliament) and celebrities are showing solidarity with this demonstration in Shahbag Avenue. This avenue is currently being referred to as ''Projonmo Chottor'' (প্রজন্ম চত্ত্বর) or ''New Generation Circle'' in English. The protest has spread to other parts of the country, with sit-ins and demonstrations taking place in Chittagong, Sylhet, Barisal, Mymensingh, Khulna, Rajbari, Rajshahi, Rangpur, Sunamganj, Noakhali and Narsingdi.<ref name="Shahbagh sit-in-1">{{cite news|title=Thousands join Shahbagh sit-in|url=http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=268142|accessdate=7 February 2013|date=February 7, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=A cartoon of Bangladesh's Jamaat-e-Islami senior leader Abdul Quader Mollah|url=http://in.news.yahoo.com/photos/cartoon-bangladeshs-jamaat-e-islami-senior-leader-abdul-photo-161239570.html|accessdate=7 February 2013|newspaper=]|date=7 February 2013}}</ref><ref name="sit in-3">{{cite news|title=People burst into protests|url=http://www.newagebd.com/detail.php?date=2013-02-07&nid=39332|accessdate=7 February 2013|date=7 February 2013}}</ref><ref name="reuters2" /> | |||
| This movement has inspired the youth of the nation and has reinvigorated the belief and confidence of the elders and freedom fighters on the youth of the country. Amiruddin Ahmed, a freedom fighter, was among the thousands of people who have joined the protest at Shahbagh. “After coming here I have realised that the national flag is secure at the hands of our children,” he said. The sexagenarian freedom fighter, who came there with his wife Rijia Amir, became quite emotional, ”I pray from my heart that they grow big in life.” Many of the 1971 ‘Golden Generation’ like Ahmed have found their hangout at ‘Projonmo Chottor’ to draw fresh inspiration.<ref name="Shahbagh waits for a spark">{{cite web|title=Reaction from freedom fighter|url=http://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2013/02/07/shahbagh-waits-for-a-spark|publisher=bdnews24.com|accessdate=9 February 2013}}</ref> | |||
| Writer, Prof. ] was also one who regained his faith on the youth and now sees new hopes. He said, "I am here to offer my apology to you. I wrote in newspapers that the new generation only hits 'Like' on Facebook and writes on blogs, but does not take to the streets. You have proved me wrong and I thank you all for this". | |||
| Dhaka University Vice Chancellor Prof. AAMS Arefin Siddique said, “Today is a movement to make the country free from ''razakars''. The country needs to be freed from ''razakars''’ hands. Capital punishment of the ''razakars'' is a demand of the country’s 16 crore people.”<ref name=autogenerated1></ref> | |||
| Jahangirnagar University Vice Chancellor ] said, “The people of Bangladesh have rejected the verdict. At Projonmo Chottor, we join our hands to make a clear statement, to give a call to all countrymen to unite and oust the anti-liberation forces from the soil.”<ref name=autogenerated1 /> | |||
| Sector Commanders’ Forum vice chairman ] (Bir Uttam) said, “I haven’t come here to deliver a speech. I’m here to express my frustration. We want to know how many killings should Mollah have carried out in order to get the death sentence.”<ref name=autogenerated1 /> | |||
| State Minister for Law, Quamrul Islam said that the verdict against Abdul Quader Mollah for war crimes could have been different if people took to the streets ahead of the verdict.<ref></ref> | |||
| ====Political party response to protests==== | |||
| The ] has been disappointed with the verdict. However, Finance Minister AMA Muhith on Friday said the government would fulfill its election pledges by trying all the war criminals.<ref></ref> The government is also working to file appeals with the Supreme Court contesting the recent verdict.<ref></ref> On February 11, 2013, the Cabinet approved proposed amendments to the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act 1973 to introduce a provision for plaintiffs to appeal to the apex court against verdicts delivered by the Tribunal. This amendment, if passed in parliament, will enable the state to appeal against the life sentence handed down to Abdul Quader Mollah.<ref></ref> | |||
| ], who were already staging violent protests against the impending trial of their leaders, has called for ].<ref></ref> Jamaat continues to demand that the International War Crimes trial be scrapped and that their leaders be freed, regardless of whether their leaders are proved guilty or not. Jamaat supporters, and their student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir, carried out violent demonstration and acts of terror nationwide demanding the release of their leaders. Such acts included arson, attacking the police, setting vehicles on fire and exploding homemade bombs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2013/01/28/jamaat-shibir-attack-policemen-across-country|title=Jamaat, Shibir attack policemen across country|publisher=bdnews24.com|date=28 January 2013|accessdate=8 February 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2013/02/06/jamaat-shibir-attack-police-in-khulna|title=Jamaat, Shibir attack police in Khulna|publisher=bdnews24.com|date=6 February 2013|accessdate=7 February 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/latest_news.php?nid=44610||publisher=bdnews24.com|date=7 February 2013|accessdate=8 February 2013|title=Jamaat, Shibir men torch 2 vehicles in Ctg}}</ref> | |||
| ===Reactions of Bangladeshis living abroad=== | |||
| ] ]] | |||
| From the very beginning of the movement, Bangladeshis living abroad expressed solidarity through the social media websites ] and ]<ref name=bdnews24-2></ref>. Solidarity demonstrations took place in ], ], ], ]<ref>http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-925257</ref>, ]<ref></ref> | |||
| ], ], ], ], ] and ]. In United states, Bangladeshis joined the protest through mass gathering and demonstrations, especially in different universities of the majority of the states.<ref>http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-924441</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=we are demanding death sentence for all 71 war criminals|title=we are demanding death sentence for all 71 war criminals - YouTube|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eV-XqeyU-MA}} by Bangladeshi community in Hawaii</ref><ref>http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-925241</ref><ref>http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-924646</ref><ref>http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-924429</ref><ref>http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-925094</ref><ref>http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-925640</ref><ref>http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-926040</ref><ref>http://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2013/02/09/shahbagh-protests-echo-in-us</ref><ref></ref> | |||
| City-wide demonstrations took place in London (UK), Uppsala (Sweden), Trento (Italy), Toronto, Newfoundland & Labrador (Canada), New York City, Washington, D.C. and Dallas-Fort Worth (US). | |||
| ] | |||
| Bangladeshis living in ] joined in a symbolic protest on February 9, 2013 at Diversity Plaza, ]. {{citation needed|date=February 2013}}In London, a solidarity protest took place at ] starting from February 6, 2013. On the third day of the demonstration, the protesters were attacked and severely beaten by the supporters of ] party of ]<ref>http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-925713/Sheer Jamaat-e-Islami aggression on UK-based Shahbag Solidarity Protesters </ref>. A mass sit-in demonstrations were arranged by the Bangladeshi Community of ], Australia in front of International Mother Language Monument in Sydney Ashfield Park on February 10, 2013{{citation needed|date=February 2013}}. Another mass gathering took place at Kings Park, ] the same day to pronounce soidarity with the movement.{{citation needed|date=February 2013}} In another mass gathering in the Angel Statue of ] the demonstrators signed a petition to the Bangladeshi Prime Minister ], asking for death penalty to the war criminals.{{citation needed|date=February 2013}} | |||
| ] | |||
| A mass demonstration was arranged by the Bangladesh Student Association at ] in front of City Hall, Calgary, Alberta, Canada on February 7, 2013. Bangladeshi citizens residing in Calgary joined in the event and expressed solidarity with the Shahbag movement.{{citation needed|date=February 2013}} | |||
| A gathering was arranged at Lafayette, Louisiana, USA during the parade of ] on February 9, 2013 by the Bangladeshi Students of ]. The students expressed their solidarity with the Shahbag Movement and interacted with the crowd during the parade to spread the view.{{citation needed|date=February 2013}}<ref name="Shahbag Movement ULL">{{cite web|title=ULL Shahbag movement|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izMrgnJmcrI|accessdate=12 February 2013}}</ref> | |||
| In Germany, the largest demonstration was organized at the ], Essen campus by the young Bangladeshis living North Rhine-Westphalia(NRW) on February 10, 2013. On February 9, 2013 another large gathering of Bangladeshi expats pronounced solidarity to the Shahbag Demonstration. {{citation needed|date=February 2013}} | |||
| Bangladeshi living in Taiwan (Republic of China) expressed their solidarity with the Shahbag protest on 10 February 2013 in Taoyuan County. Bangladeshi students from National Taipei University, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, YuanZe University, Chinese Culture University. | |||
| A statement from the Bangladeshis living abroad expressing their solidarity with the ongoing movement was read at the "Projonmo Chottor". <ref>{{cite news | | |||
| title = People at Shahbag, We are with you | url = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyeBtfOtUBs}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | | |||
| title = সংহতি জানাতে এসেছি (Sonhoti janate eshechhi) | url = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgk77XY8kfE}}</ref> | |||
| ==Cultural activities== | |||
| {{Expand section|date=February 2013}} | |||
| Tui Rajakar Slogan leading by Lucky Akter. Lucky Akter's relentless slogan, which was one of the key elements of the Shahbag movement, inspired and invigorated Bangladeshi people from every corner of the world.<ref>{{cite news | | |||
| title = লাকী আক্তার- Tui Rajakar Slogan leading by Lucky akter | url = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Y4TYCsNlaA}}</ref> | |||
| Tora Shob Chol Chol Chol By ] & Brothers. <ref>{{cite news | | |||
| title = Chol Chol Chol Tora Shob Chol Chol Chol | url = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcmgKTbvVYc}}</ref> | |||
| A "Chorompotro 2013" has been written for this protest. <ref>{{cite news | | |||
| title = Chorompotro 2013 | url = https://soundcloud.com/shahbagprotibad}}</ref> ] was a popular radio program during the Liberation war of Bangladesh. | |||
| The ] of Bangladesh visited the Shahbag premises on 10 February 2013 to express their solidarity with the movement. The team was accompanied by senior officials of the ] as well as former players.<ref>"", ''The Daily Star'', 10 February 2013</ref><ref>"", ''The Daily Star'', 11 February 2013</ref><ref>{{citation |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/bangladesh/content/story/604382.html |title=Top cricketers visit Dhaka protest rally |first=Mohammad |last=Isam |publisher=Cricinfo |date=10 February 2013 |accessdate=10 February 2013}}</ref> | |||
| ] composed two songs titled ''Gonodabi'' and ''Shahbage Raatbhor '' to support the movement.<ref>{{cite news | | |||
| title = শাহবাগ নিয়ে সুমনের গান | work = Prothom Alo | pages = | publisher = | date =2013-02-09 | |||
| | url = http://www.prothom-alo.com/detail/date/2013-02-09/news/327848 | accessdate =2013-02-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | | |||
| title = শাহবাগ নিয়ে সুমনের গান 'শাহবাগে রাতভোর' | url = http://www.kabirsumanonline.com/home/2013/02/11/shahbage-raatbhor}}</ref> | |||
| Chamok Hasan and his friends at the ], USA composed a song titled "ফাঁসি চাই FASI CHAI".<ref>{{cite news | | |||
| title = ফাঁসি চাই FASI CHAI | url = https://soundcloud.com/chamokhasan/fasi-chai-chamok-rabbi-friends}}</ref> | |||
| Imranul Hoque and Sonia Jahid composed a puthi titled "সহি রাজাকারনামা (Sohi Rajakarnama)" which is presented by the students of ], USA.<ref>{{cite news | | |||
| title =সহি রাজাকারনামা (Sohi Rajakarnama) | url = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZRcRgNmObk}}</ref> | |||
| Negative Altitude, a studio for motion pictures, released an inspirational work on SHAHBAGH PROTEST, a video titled "Abar Falgun". <ref>{{cite news | | |||
| title = Abar Falgun | url = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZI7plyCAQE}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | | |||
| title = Negative Altitude | url = http://www.facebook.com/NegativeAltitude}}</ref> | |||
| SAHABAAG 2013 - শাহবাগ সঙ্গীত ২০১৩ by অমিত মল্লিক. <ref>{{cite news | | |||
| title = SAHABAAG 2013 - শাহবাগ সঙ্গীত ২০১৩ by অমিত মল্লিক | url = https://soundcloud.com/samiul-hoque/sahabaag-2013}}</ref> | |||
| তাইরে নাইরে নাই রে (রাজাকার বধাবলী-১)/ Taire naire nai re. <ref>{{cite news | | |||
| title = তাইরে নাইরে নাই রে (রাজাকার বধাবলী-১)/ Taire naire nai re | url =https://soundcloud.com/tareque-aziz/taire-naire-nai-re}}</ref> | |||
| শাহবাগ নিয়ে পারমিতা মুমু'র গান উত্তরাধিকার / Uttoradhikar by Paromita Mumu ( On behalf of the Bangladeshi Community of San Diego, California). <ref>{{cite news | | |||
| title = উত্তরাধিকার / Uttoradhikar | url =http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJW7f9rtiWQ}}</ref> | |||
| ==Photo gallery== | |||
| {{Cleanup-gallery}} | |||
| <gallery Caption="Photos of Domestic Protest"> | |||
| ] | |||
| File:Protesters at Shahbag.jpg | |||
| File:Mass Signature For Maximum Punishment.jpg | |||
| File:Shahbag Projonmo Square Uprising Demanding Capital Punishment of the War Criminals of 1971 in Bangladesh.jpg | |||
| File:Shahbag Projonmo Square Uprising Demanding Death Penalty of the War Criminals of 1971 in Bangladesh.jpg | |||
| File:Shahbag Projonmo Square Uprising Demanding Justice for the Victims of 1971 in Bangladesh.jpg | |||
| File:Shahbag Projonmo Square Uprising Demanding Death Penalty of the War Criminals of 1971 in Bangladesh 25.jpg | |||
| File:Shahbag Projonmo Square Uprising Demanding Death Penalty of the War Criminals of 1971 in Bangladesh 05.jpg | |||
| File:Shahbag Projonmo Square Uprising Demanding Death Penalty of the War Criminals of 1971 in Bangladesh 09.jpg | |||
| File:A Bangladeshi 60 plus old man carrying the playcard in Shahbag Mass Movement of 2013 in Bangladesh demanding capital punishment for the accused world criminal Abdul kader Molla.jpg | |||
| File:Bangladeshi Children joining in Shahbag Mass Movement of 2013 in Bangladesh.jpg | |||
| File:Shahbag Projonmo Square Uprising Demanding Death Penalty of the War Criminals of 1971 in Bangladesh 14.jpg|Placard addressing the foreign media | |||
| File:Shahbag Projonmo Square Uprising Demanding Death Penalty of the War Criminals of 1971 in Bangladesh 13.jpg|Raising shoes to convey shame and hatred | |||
| File:Young_Protester_Shahabag_2013.jpg|A young protester | |||
| File:Protesters at Shahbag 2.JPG|Protesters from Artist Community | |||
| File:IMG 4511 shahbag Protest.jpg|Shahbag Protest | |||
| </gallery> | |||
| <gallery Caption="Photos of Solidarity Protest All Over The World"> | |||
| File:Protest Against War Criminals - Bangladesh Student Association - PSU.jpg|Bangladesh Student Association, ] | |||
| File:BSAUC PROTEST.jpg| Students of ]. | |||
| File:NCSU Shabagh 2013.jpg|Students of ]. | |||
| File:Bangladeshi_Students_at_WSU_show_solidarity_with_the_Shahbagh_Movement%2C_2013.jpg| Students of ]. | |||
| File:Bangladesh Students' Association at University of Akron protests and express solidarity with Shahbagh Movement 2013.jpg|Students of ], Ohio. | |||
| File:The protest of Bangladeshi students, scientists staying at Daejeon, Korea in Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology.jpg|Students of ], Daejeon, Korea. | |||
| File:Bangladeshi students at UTArlington, Texas showing solidarity with Shahbag Movement 2013.jpg|Students of ]. | |||
| File:Bangladesh Community at Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia.jpg|Bangladesh Community at ], Halifax, ]. | |||
| File:Support_for_the_2013_Shahbag_Protest_in_Bangladesh_by_students_of_Louisiana_State_University.jpg |Students at ], Baton Rouge, LA | |||
| File:Solidarity with shahbag from University of Notre Dame Indiana USA.jpg|Students at ], Indiana, USA. | |||
| File:Solidarity_with_Projonmo_Cottor_from_U_of_S.jpg|Students of ]. | |||
| File:Uofashahbag.jpg|Students of ], Fayetteville, Arkansas. | |||
| File:The Bangladesh Community at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Thailand.GIF|The Bangladesh Community at the ], Thailand. | |||
| File:The_Bangladesh_%26_German_Student_at_the_University_of_Ulm_Germany%2Ctogether_showing_their_solidarity_with_Shahbag_protesters.jpg|Students of ], Germany. | |||
| File:Bangladeshis at UTD shows solidarity with Shahbag.jpg|Students of ]. | |||
| File:Assocation_of_Bangladesh_Students_and_Scholars_@_Texas_Tech_University_showing_solidarity_with_Shahbag_protesters.jpg|Students and Scholars of ]. | |||
| File:Solidarity with Projonmo Cottor from MUN 1.JPG|Students of ]. | |||
| File:Queen's University, ON, Canada students assemblage.jpg|Students of ], ON, Canada. | |||
| File:Demanding_Capital_Punishment_for_RAJAKAR.jpg | Students of ] and ]. | |||
| File:Protest in Malaysia against 1971 war criminals.jpg|Bangladeshis at Bangladesh High Commission, ], Malaysia. | |||
| File:Solidarity with Projonmo Cottor from University of South Carolina.JPG|Students of ] | |||
| File:WSU Students for 2013 Shahbag Protest.jpg|Students of ]. | |||
| File:TAMU Bangladeshi Students for 2013 Shahbag Protest.jpg|Students of ]. | |||
| File:Students of University of Houston.jpg|Students of ]. | |||
| File:Bangladeshi in Cornell University and Ithaca are expressing their solidarity with Shahbag.jpg|Students of ]. | |||
| File:Cambridge University Bangladeshis.JPG|Students at the ]. | |||
| File:Students of University of Memphis Supporting for the 2013 Shahbag Protest.jpg|Students of ]. | |||
| File:2013 Shahbag Protest.jpg|Students of ]. | |||
| File:Michigan Tech Bangladeshi Students.jpg|Students of ] | |||
| File:Bangladeshi students at the University of Texas at San Antonio, USA enunciating their support for the 2013 Shahbag Protest.jpg|Students of ]. | |||
| File:Shahbag Protest in OSU 2013.jpg|Students of ]. | |||
| File:Sydny-Shahabagh Solidarity Ashfield Park Sydney.jpg|Bangladeshis at Sydney Ashfield Park, NSW, Australia | |||
| File:Protest UBC Okanagan.jpg| Students of ]. | |||
| File:Sg In Spirit with Shahbag 2, Feb 2013.jpg| Bangladeshis at YIH Plaza, ] | |||
| File:Bangladeshi Students in NRW, Germany gather together to express solidarity with Shahbagh Movement 2013.JPG|Bangladeshis of ], Germany. | |||
| File:Solidarity with Shahbag - Stuttgart.jpg| Bangladeshi community in ], Germany express their solidarity with Shahbag Movement 2013. | |||
| File:Candle_light_vigil_Shahbag_-_Stuttgart.jpg| Candlelight vigil by the Bangladeshi community in ], Germany. | |||
| File:The Bangladeshi students, staff and alumni expressing their solidarity with the shahbag movement.jpg|Students of ]. | |||
| File:UIC and Northwestern University Bangladeshi community stands with Shahbag Movement 2013.jpg|Students of ] and ], Illinois. | |||
| File:Melbourne Bangladeshi in Solidarity with SHAHBAG Movement.jpg|At The Angel Statue, ], Australia. | |||
| File:Uc riversid.jpg|Students of ]. | |||
| File:Protest Montelimar en France.jpg|From France in Solidarity with Shahbag. | |||
| File:Bangladesh Community at South Korea.JPG|Bangladesh Community at ]. | |||
| File:Students of University of Waterloo,Canada stands with Shahbag Movement.jpg|Students of ]. | |||
| File:OSU BSA protest.JPG|Students of ]. | |||
| File:Solidarity of Seattle with the Projonmo Chottor at the UW Red Square.jpg|Students at the ]. | |||
| File:Netherlands for Shahbag Movement.jpg|Bangladeshis in front of the ], The Netherlands. | |||
| File:Students of Aalto University.jpg|Students of ]. | |||
| File:Solidarity with Shahbag from Kyungpook National University, South Korea.jpg|Students of the ]. | |||
| File:Cover_Shahbag_FIU.jpg|Students of the ]. | |||
| File:Solidarity with Shahbagh Protest 2013 Danforth, Canada.jpg|Bangladeshis at ], Canada. | |||
| File:Solidarity with Shahbagh Protest 2013 from Washington D.C, USA.jpg|Demonstration at ], USA | |||
| File:Solidarity with Shahbagh Protest 2013 from Fukouka, Japan.jpg|Demonstration at ], Japan | |||
| File:Solidarity with Shahbagh Protest 2013 from London, UK.jpg|Protests at ]. | |||
| File:Solidarity with Shahbagh Protest 2013 from MIT, Harvard, NorthEastern University, Boston, USA.jpg|Students of ], ], ]. | |||
| File:Solidarity with Shahbagh Protest 2013 from Purdue University, Indiana, USA.jpg|Students of ], Indiana. | |||
| File:Solidarity with Shahbagh Protest 2013 from Toronto, Canada.jpg|Protests at ]. | |||
| File:Solidarity with Shahbagh Protest 2013 from Ulsan, South Korea.jpg|Demonstration at ], South Korea. | |||
| File:Solidarity with Shahbagh Protest 2013 from Upsala, Sweden.jpg|Demonstration at ], Sweden. | |||
| File:Solidarity with Shahbagh Protest 2013 from Virginia Tech University, Virginia, USA.jpg|Students of ]. | |||
| File:Solidarity with Shahbagh Protest 2013 from University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, USA.jpg|Students of ]. | |||
| File:Students at University of Guelph and Waterloo University, Waterloo, Ontario.jpg|Students at ] and ], Waterloo, Ontario. | |||
| File:Solidarity with Shahbag Movement (University of Louisiana at Lafayette).jpg|Bangladeshi students of ] | |||
| File:Expressing Solidarity with Shahbag from Auburn University.JPG|Expressing Solidarity with Shahbag from ] | |||
| File:San Diego Bangladeshi community expressing solidarity.JPG|] Bangladeshi community expressing solidarity | |||
| File:Taiwan_Bangladeshi_in_Solidarity_with_SHAHBAG_Movement.jpg| Bangladeshi community in ] expressing solidarity with Shahbagh movement | |||
| File:"University Of New Mexico students expressing solidarity with Shahbag movement.jpg".jpg| ] students expressing solidarity with Shahbag movement | |||
| </gallery> | |||
| ==See also== | |||
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| ==Reference== | |||
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| ==External Links== | |||
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Revision as of 21:22, 12 February 2013
 | This article documents a current event. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses, and initial news reports may be unreliable. The latest updates to this article may not reflect the most current information. Feel free to improve this article or discuss changes on the talk page, but please note that updates without valid and reliable references will be removed. (February 2013) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
| Shahbag Protest of 2013 | |
|---|---|
 Demonstrators in Shahbag on February 2013 | |
| Date | 5 February 2013 (2013-02-05) to Present |
| Location | Projonmo Chottor, Shahbag, Dhaka, Bangladesh Protests in 64 districts of Bangladesh 23°44′18″N 90°23′45″E / 23.73833°N 90.39583°E / 23.73833; 90.39583 |
| Caused by |
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| Methods | |
The Shahbag Protest of 2013 in Bangladesh is a gathering of some thousand protesters in the Shahbag area of the capital city of Dhaka, Bangladesh, that began on Tuesday, February 5th, 2013 in Dhaka, Bangladesh, with the demand of capital punishment for Abdul Quader Mollah and the other accused war criminals of the 1971 Liberation War of Bangladesh, in general, but due to confusion regarding leadership (even though the ruling party, Awami League, claims the protest as their own, many have joined the protest who don't support any particular political party and are unaware of the complicated legal and/or constitutional provisions and procedures involved), the specific demands of the protesters and how to achieve them are not yet clear and is a popular topic in the media, the talk shows and the academia.
Legal Issues
It is not a protest about bringing the accused to trial but a demand for some specific punishment. It still remains to be clarified as to how it is that the protesters want the government to influence the verdict of a court, how it is that a court can be bound by a some pre-decided non-judicial verdict, or whether being accused itself is a sufficient criterion for guilt. The government has promised to start fresh trials with provisions for death penalty for the accused this time, but this gave rise to further concerns among the intellectual circles of Bangladesh as to why the initial trial was not conducted under such provisions. A second trial would conflict with the basic principle of law that a person cannot be tried twice for the same offense. For some, a more viable option that is left is for the prosecution to appeal to superior courts, and wait for the judges there to take the sentiment of the protesters into account. Nevertheless, even that would be a matter of time, and many are finding it difficult to ascertain as to what could immediately be offered to the ongoing protests.
Historical Context and Development of the Protest
Abdul Quader Mollah was charged with abetting the Pakistani army; actively participating in the 1971 atrocities in Bangladesh; rape (including the rape of minors); and mass murder of Bangladeshis in the Mirpur area of Dhaka during the Liberation War of Bangladesh. In 1973, he, along with others, was pardoned as part of a general amnesty issued by the Awami League government at that time, headed by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman due to some legal complexities surrounding the issue. After forty years, the present Awami League government under Sheikh Hasina resumed the trial of some of the accused by setting up a special tribunal, naming it the International Crimes Tribunal, to win back the support of the public amidst massive dissatisfaction regarding Awami League rule since 2009. On February 5, 2013, the International Crimes Tribunal of Bangladesh sentenced Mollah to life in prison after he was proved guilty in five out of the six charges against him. Within hours of the verdict, an online community, Blogger and Online Activists Network (BOAN), whose activity has been praised by the present government, successfully managed to publicize its event to protest the verdict, to be held at Shahbag, primarily with the help of the social networking site Facebook. Initially members of the Chhatra League, the student wing of Awami League started the protest, but soon was joined by many neutral people who wanted revenge for the 1971 war time activities of Jamaat e Islami, and also by passive but curious observers, or those who just wanted to be a part of the protest never mind its agenda, when the mainstream media covered the protest at Shahbag nationwide through the TV channels, with statements such as "the nation is getting united in the manner of Tahrir Sqaure". The protest has continued since then.
Views About the Protest
Opinions vary regarding motives, the method and the outcome of the protest. In Bangladesh, there are many who are supporting the protest strongly, many of whom are ordinary citizens, while many are also supporters of Awami League. Those who do not want the government to hijack the protest for their own purposes have tried to prevent government officials from speaking in the protest. But government supporters are also active and have physically injured a female protester for trying to prevent a government official to speak in the protest.
The second group of people are supporters of Jamaat-e-Islami, who are openly denouncing the protest as a plot instigated by the ruling Awami League to neutralize political opponents and to divert anti-government sentiments before the coming of the next general elections. They are affirming their democratic right to participate in politics, which, many protesters believe, they do not have. They claim that the initial tribunal set up by Awami League was not fair enough, proven by the abduction of defense witnesses by law enforcers, and the sensitive information regarding the trial process leaked when a Skype conference of the chairman of the tribunal went public. They claim that their few central leaders have been accused retrospectively for crimes committed by many localized individuals during the 1971 wars. They also claim that the passing of the life sentence in the initial trial was intentional and influenced by the government, as a protest supporting government cause was what the government wanted most to achieve from it, which would eventually enable them to achieve not only the elimination political opposition, but also to show public support for it, as well as neutralize massive anti-government sentiments that arose during their rule since 2009. They claim that the breadth and scope of the protest are being highly exaggerated and publicized by elements of the government, and some have even threatened the government with civil war.
A third group of people have appreciated the spirit of the protest, but believe that singling out only the capital punishment of the criminals of 1971 among hundreds of other issues bothering the country today would be an immature policy to adopt and would only benefit the cause of Awami League, when in reality the major cause of the crisis in Bangladesh today are the activities of the two political parties. They believe that all issues haunting the country should now be put together and the energy channeled towards a real change in national politics.
International coverage
Since 2009, under Awami League, Bangladesh has suffered some downturns in international relations, and it is yet to be seen how the international community reacts to the protest at Shahbag. Till date, international media has tried cover the situation in Bangladesh and Shahbag through a more neutral perspective.
- Cite error: The named reference
bbcnews-1was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - "Shahbagh grand rally demands ban on Jamaat", The Daily Star, 9 February 2013
- "Cry for Jamaat ban". Bdnews24.com. 8 February, 2013. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - "Vow to boycott Jamaat institutions", The Daily Star, 9 February 2013
- ^ "Protesters demand death for Bangladesh war crimes Islamist". Reuters. 6 February, 2013. Retrieved 8 February 2013.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) Cite error: The named reference "reuters-1" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page). - "Thousands in Bangladesh war crimes protest". Aljazeera. 7 February 2013. Retrieved 8 February 2013.
- "Summary of verdict in Quader Mollah case", The Daily Star, 6 February 2013
- "OUTRAGED", The Daily Star, 6 February 2013
- "Verdict not acceptable", The Daily Star, 6 February 2013
- "Verdict surprises some top jurists", The Daily Star, 7 February 2013