As violent clashes between Jamaat-e-Islami supporters and police continued across Bangladesh and the death toll climbed to 44 including five policemen, the Jamaat and its students wing, Islami Chatra Shibir, called for a two-day nationwide shutdown from March 3.
The Jamaat, a staunch ally of the main opposition BNP, intensified its nationwide protests hours after the International Crimes Tribunal-1 sentenced its top policymaker, Delwar Hossain Sayedee, to death for crimes against humanity including genocide, murder, rape, arson, loot and persecution during the liberation war in 1971. The BNP, which has been silent about the war crimes verdict and its ally’s violent protests, has condemned “police brutality”.
Meanwhile, the young activists, who had called for the February Shabagh protests demanding death penalty to Jamaat leaders, have vowed to resist the hartal. They have initiated a peaceful movement that aims to spread awareness among youths about Bangladesh’s “secular national spirit”.
Militant activists of the Jamaat attacked temples and houses belonging to Hindus at Noakhali’s Begumganj. Police and paramilitary forces said they were attacked by Jamaat activists who used bombs and sometimes firearms to target them and ruling party supporters. The law enforcers said they initially retaliated with tear gas and rubber bullets but had to open fire in some places to control the situation. Section 144 has been imposed in several northern headquarters following the clashes.
Keywords: Bangladesh war crimes, Bangladesh war crimes tribunal, Jamaat-e-Islami, Bangladesh war of Independence, 1971 Bangaldesh war
mir ali- The same Western countries which are supporting terrorists in Syria as part of their democracy "package"?
Mr Emad, an extremely relevant question! The problem is that the Jamaat called the liberation war anti-Islamic which is supposed to impart credibility to their ridiculous position as a religious-political party in Bangladesh. I feel compelled to add that the Jamaat's barbaric crimes and its current policies and ideals prove that whatever be your religion, give to each his due is a principle which must adhere to.
The muslim fundamenatalists i.e. razakars who killed 30 lacs bangla
muslims, raped thousands of bangla women and worked on behalf of
pakistan have still supporters in Bangaladesh. This Bengali genocide is
very less discussed in muslim news media. Shameful!
One wonders why the young Jamaat supporters do not find it shameful to identify themself with the War Criminals (1971 Pakistan Army servants). How can criminals enforce any religion?.
A positive step in combating this curse of religious terror. I wish India should learn
something from this act.
The tribunal which has sentenced sayedi has been criticized by western states for falling short of standards,tribunal judge caught on skype helping the prosecution.more over forty years have passed where non-bangla people have also suffered at the hands of pro liberation militants.It is nothing but a cheap kind of politics by awami league with its former ally jamat.
No mention of targeting of Hindus in the article? The Bangladeshi press has plenty of
coverage on this.
Similar tribunal must be conducted in Sri Lanka and those who responsible for the war crimes must be executed.
This is a turning point in the history of Bangladesh.
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