Shahbagh activists led by Imran H Sarkar march to the home ministry yesterday to submit a memorandum demanding arrest of daily Amar Desh acting editor Mahmudur Rahman. Photo: STARNotice: Undefined index: pageID in /var/www/archive/newDesign/print_news.php on line 301
Reiterating that the Gonojagoron Mancha has never denigrated any religion and will never do so, the Shahbagh protesters yesterday strongly condemned the radical forces for spreading anti-Islamic propaganda and shifting the blame onto the protesters.
Addressing the demonstrators at the Projonmo Chattar and the nation at large, Imran H Sarker, convener of Blogger and Online Activist Network, said the anti-liberation forces were exploiting the religious sentiments of devotees for political gains.
“Just as in 1952 attempts were made to establish Bangla as a Hindu language to establish Urdu as the state language, the Liberation War of 1971 was termed anti-Islam. In the same way war criminals are terming anti-Islam a legitimate movement for justice,” he said.
Highlighting the “ill-attempts made by Jamaat-Shibir" to confuse and mislead devoted Muslims, he said, “We strongly protest and condemn the distasteful attacks on the Prophet Mohammad (SM). Projonmo Chattar does not and will not indulge in such acts.”
He also said the people's movement does not belong to any political party. “Although the movement is based on a political demand, it is not a partisan platform.”
Earlier in the day, the protesters submitted a memorandum to the home minister demanding the immediate arrest of Amar Desh acting editor Mahmudur Rahman for disseminating propaganda to disparage the Shahbagh movement.
Protesters marched resolute towards the home ministry, chanting anti-Razakar slogans but police stopped them near Matsya Bhaban.
Complying with the police instructions, a team of five demonstrators led by Imran went to the ministry.
The memorandum said following the killing of blogger Ahmed Rajib Haidar on February 15, Amar Desh published a series of reports claiming that bloggers made derogatory comments on Islam. The newspaper also ran reports that the Shahbagh protesters were conducting an anti-Islam movement.
Theses reports provoked some Islamist parties to create violence across the country over the past few days. They also vandalised Shaheed Minars, burnt and tore national flags and damaged Gonojagoron Manchas in different districts.
The protesters earlier issued two ultimatums to the government for Mahmudur's arrest.
Alleging that the Bangla daily acting editor instigated fundamentalists, protesters have been demanding the immediate arrest of Mahmudur for the last few days.
In his immediate reaction after getting the memorandum, Home Minister Muhiuddin Khan Alamgir said the government would decide on the matter in a few days.
Expressing solidarity with the demand for Mahmudur's arrest, the minister said the allegations raised by the activists of the movement were sufficient for taking legal action against him.
Later in the evening, as more and more protesters joined the movement on its 22nd day, organisers held a press conference to address the concerns and questions that had arisen over the past few days as a result of the “propaganda ruthlessly pursued by the anti-liberation forces”.
The nonstop movement began in the afternoon of February 5, hours after Jamaat assistant secretary general Abdul Quader Mollah was sentenced to life in prison for war crimes in 1971. Protesters demand capital punishment to Mollah and all war criminals.
Emphasising that it was a people's movement being participated by students, bloggers, political activists, cultural groups and the mass people, Imran told the press conference: “Gonojagoron Mancha has never done anything to implement any party's agenda.”
From the beginning the movement received donations form individuals and institutions, and more and more people are coming forward with help, he said and went on to add that at the moment they were not in that much need of financial support.
Imran, a physician, said the anti-liberation forces did not stop spreading hateful propaganda, and that they instigated violence “misusing holy mosques” across the country.
They burnt prayer mats, threw shoes inside the mosques, thus insulting Islam, he said, adding: “Our question is: What sort of Muslims are they?”
“Bangladesh is on the verge of another Liberation War,” said Imran to loud cheers from the crowd. “This is a struggle to create a war-criminal-free and truly secular country.”
Wednesday, February 27, 2013 01:23 AM GMT+06:00 (586 weeks ago)
Re-packaging a damaged product? They have lost all the credibility. The issue is that when these front leaders posses active animosity and hatred toward Islam, they will see Razakar in every religious person. Their anit-Islamic fervor has impaired their judgment. That's why they see JI and other Islamic parties as enemy and as Razakar. The source of their motivation is ill. That's what wrong with them.
Wednesday, February 27, 2013 01:24 AM GMT+06:00 (586 weeks ago)
The opposition of the Projonmo will go to any length to tarnish the movement. Patriotism should be above politics, it's a tragedy that BNP doubts the spontaneous response of our youth. We will survive as a nation because of them.
Wednesday, February 27, 2013 01:58 AM GMT+06:00 (586 weeks ago)
It seems Imran H Sarker, convener of Blogger and Online Activist Network, who no one knew, is now a renowned figure in Bangladesh. Hope many other bloggers will follow his footstep and be famous but be careful not to land up like Rajib who was brutally killed in front of his own house.
Wednesday, February 27, 2013 02:02 AM GMT+06:00 (586 weeks ago)
A very good move. Turn off Goebbels microphone (Goebbels Nazi Propaganda Minister: A lie repeated a thousand times becomes the truth).
Wednesday, February 27, 2013 02:12 AM GMT+06:00 (586 weeks ago)
The Times of India in its 26th February issue has reported that India support the Shabagh movement quoting India's National Security Adviser & the Foreign Minister. As it has been long perceived that Indian intelligence agency RAW is actively involved in Bangladesh - particularly since the AL came to power - helping the government with intelligence feedback. Even a stupid can realize that the present Shahbagh movement was staged under the active supervision of RAW & the party in power in order to keep the AL government regain control in the next general election.
Wednesday, February 27, 2013 02:24 AM GMT+06:00 (586 weeks ago)
This news clears the concept of protester that they are not against religion. If they are not anti-Islam then it is clear that evil supported editor is the main culprit for the damage and terrorism. Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir is a doctorate means highest degree, so that I believe he is educated; it will be not wise for him to make late to arrest the main culprit. We want to know from him that was he find out that the anti-Islamic article was posted by Rajib or by other in the name of Rajib?
Wednesday, February 27, 2013 03:26 AM GMT+06:00 (586 weeks ago)
We want unconditional arrest of Imran H Sarker for his pioneering a movement which is anti-government and anti-religious. It's anti-government because this movement is against the judiciary which is part of the government. Again it's anti-religious because this movement is against Islamic belief and principles and the protesters attended the demonstrations haven't shared the same values which a true Muslim shares.
Wednesday, February 27, 2013 03:43 PM GMT+06:00 (585 weeks ago)
Dear Dr.Imran H.Sarker,
now that the Times of India has disclosed that the Shabagh protest 'led' by you is backed by india according to statements made by no other than the Indian National Security Advisor (who oversees Indian RAW activities) & the Indian Foreign Minister, that has unqestionably are you now going to demand the head of the editor of the Times of India as you did for Mahmudur Rahman of Amar Desh? Pls. answer.
Wednesday, February 27, 2013 03:38 AM GMT+06:00 (586 weeks ago)
This blogger being an A.L. Man is acting under Govt patronage to serve political purpose. Being a doctor , a man of noble profession his indulgence in such dirty game is regrettable. First he should explain how the editor has published distorted and false news about their activities. If he has so much love for his country let him speak out a single misdeed of the Govt. His actions are like as if he is part of a parallel Govt. People understand what the bitter truth is. In 1952 I was a class vii student and remember joining processions on language movement but never heard that Bangla was a Hindu language nor during 1971 war never heard it anti islamic. He has triggered violence and since it has gone beyond control.
Wednesday, February 27, 2013 03:39 AM GMT+06:00 (586 weeks ago)
Imran achieved recognition and a platform and may join politics in near future. If he is genuine common youth than he must refrain from entering politics and should also concentrate on current issue that are of great importance such as corrupt free government, social equality, free and fair judiciary, rule of law and terror free BCL. If he keeps silent on these issues than he will be definitely call as puppet of AL and people will not forgive him for betraying common youths trust on him.
Wednesday, February 27, 2013 07:34 AM GMT+06:00 (585 weeks ago)
Thousands of people who have access to Internet have seen what they have written, now denying those will not erase or clean their names.The demand for arrest to an editor and openly asking for his head is something that we cannot comprehend.
Wednesday, February 27, 2013 07:38 AM GMT+06:00 (585 weeks ago)
Shahbag youth upsurge lost its credibility in the doldrums of organiser’s personal life and activities. It is no more comparable with the mass upsurge of 1969. No way, it is close to our freedom movement in 1971. It reminds us we need clean leadership like Mujib and organiser like Tofail and Razzak. Let us wait for new Tofail and Razzak.
Wednesday, February 27, 2013 08:17 AM GMT+06:00 (585 weeks ago)
If Shahbagh people would have little respect for Islam, they would apologise to the nation for writing against Islam and they would not go against Mahamudur Rahman for publishing athiest Rajib`s blog criticising prophet Muhammad(pbh).
Wednesday, February 27, 2013 09:59 AM GMT+06:00 (585 weeks ago)
Prove that you are not against any religion and also prove that what Inquilab and Amar Desh reported were all false, incorrect. Your identity are now clear after report in 'The Times Of India', no difference between BDR Touhid and you.
Wednesday, February 27, 2013 10:14 AM GMT+06:00 (585 weeks ago)
The youths already proved they are biased and working to implement present governments agenda.
Wednesday, February 27, 2013 10:19 AM GMT+06:00 (585 weeks ago)
We have every reason to believe that this government and may be some other forces are the perpetrators and patrons of Shahbagh. The slogans are ratified by Awami leaders from the back. Imran Sarkar and a few others are loyal followers of the government.
Wednesday, February 27, 2013 10:40 AM GMT+06:00 (585 weeks ago)
Do not loose the bigger picture -- the united picture against Razakars.
Wednesday, February 27, 2013 10:52 AM GMT+06:00 (585 weeks ago)
They wrote it, we saw on the blogs, and now we are being told that they didn't. Anything is possible now.
Wednesday, February 27, 2013 11:20 AM GMT+06:00 (585 weeks ago)
They have always spoken about those who use religion as a tool of business and to to earn political profit amid going against the country's liberation and sovereignty, resorting to violence, killing and anarchy. But it is unfortunate that Jamaat-Shibir and BNP are trying hard to defuse the momentum of Shahbagh movement by shamelessly resorting to a great lie that the youths are uttering against religion. I think the religious people of our country will understand about the political trick which the BNP and Jamaat-Shibir have been using since the very beginning of the public upsurge at Shahbagh and elsewhere in the country.
Wednesday, February 27, 2013 03:56 PM GMT+06:00 (585 weeks ago)
The beauty of democracy is the rights of expression, it also implies an obligation. Misuse of the right may undermine the democratic values. The comment of one reader below on the Shahbag Projonnomo's mass gathering is frustrating and nothing shorter than misuse of the right of expression. The anti-democratic and anti-Bangladesh elements always smell Indian involvement, evidence are plenty, both in the past and now. People also know, and there are clear evidence on the ISI's involvement in instigating fundamentalism among the innocent and ignorant common people. Any indecent comment without evidence is of great concern of every one who believe in the democratic values and the ideology of Bangladesh.