No conflict with any religion
Assert youths at Ashulia Gonojagoron rally
Staff Correspondent
Crowds chant slogans at a grand rally in Ashulia on the outskirts of the capital yesterday demanding maximum punishment to war criminals and ban on Jamaat-Shibir politics. Photo: Star
Despite threats from a radical Islamist group and homemade bomb blasts, hundreds of people yesterday joined the Gonojagoron Mancha rally in Ashulia, where protestors reaffirmed that they were not atheists and against no religion.
They said the youth's movement had never mentioned anything derogatory to Islam or Prophet Muhammad (pubh) and would never do so. They believe in Islam as the country's masses.
The rally was held around 4:00pm in front of Fantasy Kingdom at Jamgora in Ashulia, on the outskirts of the capital.
The protestors once again pledged that they would not return home without making Bangladesh free of war criminals and Jamaat-Shibir.
People of wider spectrum of life began to swarm the rally venue since after the Juma prayers. Participation of the working class, especially garment workers', was outstanding. Even before the rally started, the venue was roaring with slogans demanding death penalty to war criminals as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, miscreants exploded two homemade bombs around 12:30pm at Gazir Char and Beron areas, approximately one and a half kilometres from the rally venue, injuring two pedestrians, said locals.
None has been arrested in this connection, said Sub-Inspector SM Badrul Alam of Ashulia Police Station.
However, the explosions could not affect the rally held as part of the ongoing movement for capital punishment to war criminals.
Qwami madrasa-based Islamist organisation Hefazate Islam had declared to hold a counter rally at the same venue as it did in Chittagong. None from the organisation showed up at the venue yesterday.
A large number of police and Rapid Action Battalion personnel were deployed at the rally venue. A total of 50 close circuit cameras were also installed to monitor the area.
The rally began with the recitation of verses from the holy Quran and holy books of other religions. A one-minute silence was observed in memory of those who lost their lives in factory fires, including those of Tazreen Fashions Ltd, and the martyrs of 1971. The protesters then sang the national anthem.
Addressing the rally, General Secretary of Samajtantrik Chhatra Front Mehedi Hasan branded the supporters of Hefazate Islam as atheists. He challenged the organisation to show up with proof of speeches delivered from the Gonojagoron Mancha insulting Islam or the prophet.
Imams of Sholakia Eidgah and muajjin of Baitul Mukarram mosque also addressed the rally while imams of 15 large mosques expressed solidarity with the movement.
Bappa Aditya, president of Bangladesh Chhatra Moitree, said there was no conflict between the country's freedom and religion, but Jamaat was trying to put independence and religion face to face.
Spokesperson for Gonojagoron Mancha Imran H Sarker said, "It is the vow of students, workers, other professionals and the country's people to build a beautiful nation free of war criminals and Jamaat-Shibir."
He said the huge participation in the rally proved that there was no place for war criminals and Jamaat-Shibir.
Recalling the role of working people during the Liberation War in 1971 and now as well, he demanded rights and security of each worker across the country be ensured.
Imran said women took part in the war shoulder to shoulder with men and were still sacrificing to build a self-reliant Bangladesh.
Whenever women came out to join offices and industries for the development of the country, Jamaat had tried to obstruct it and create an adverse situation, he alleged, adding, "By trying war criminals and banning Jamaat, we can honour the sacrifices of our mothers and sisters [made in 1971]."
Al Jahid, acting general secretary of Bangladesh Chhatra Federation, said Jamaat during the war had declared that there would be no Islam if the country was liberated.
"Forty-two years have passed by and we have the independence and Islam as well," he said, adding that they were still carrying out the smear campaign which needs to be resisted.
Many other student leaders also addressed the rally.
As per Gonojagoron Mancha's previous announcement, a solidarity rally will be held at all educational institutions today at 11:00am.
They said the youth's movement had never mentioned anything derogatory to Islam or Prophet Muhammad (pubh) and would never do so. They believe in Islam as the country's masses.
The rally was held around 4:00pm in front of Fantasy Kingdom at Jamgora in Ashulia, on the outskirts of the capital.
The protestors once again pledged that they would not return home without making Bangladesh free of war criminals and Jamaat-Shibir.
People of wider spectrum of life began to swarm the rally venue since after the Juma prayers. Participation of the working class, especially garment workers', was outstanding. Even before the rally started, the venue was roaring with slogans demanding death penalty to war criminals as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, miscreants exploded two homemade bombs around 12:30pm at Gazir Char and Beron areas, approximately one and a half kilometres from the rally venue, injuring two pedestrians, said locals.
None has been arrested in this connection, said Sub-Inspector SM Badrul Alam of Ashulia Police Station.
However, the explosions could not affect the rally held as part of the ongoing movement for capital punishment to war criminals.
Qwami madrasa-based Islamist organisation Hefazate Islam had declared to hold a counter rally at the same venue as it did in Chittagong. None from the organisation showed up at the venue yesterday.
A large number of police and Rapid Action Battalion personnel were deployed at the rally venue. A total of 50 close circuit cameras were also installed to monitor the area.
The rally began with the recitation of verses from the holy Quran and holy books of other religions. A one-minute silence was observed in memory of those who lost their lives in factory fires, including those of Tazreen Fashions Ltd, and the martyrs of 1971. The protesters then sang the national anthem.
Addressing the rally, General Secretary of Samajtantrik Chhatra Front Mehedi Hasan branded the supporters of Hefazate Islam as atheists. He challenged the organisation to show up with proof of speeches delivered from the Gonojagoron Mancha insulting Islam or the prophet.
Imams of Sholakia Eidgah and muajjin of Baitul Mukarram mosque also addressed the rally while imams of 15 large mosques expressed solidarity with the movement.
Bappa Aditya, president of Bangladesh Chhatra Moitree, said there was no conflict between the country's freedom and religion, but Jamaat was trying to put independence and religion face to face.
Spokesperson for Gonojagoron Mancha Imran H Sarker said, "It is the vow of students, workers, other professionals and the country's people to build a beautiful nation free of war criminals and Jamaat-Shibir."
He said the huge participation in the rally proved that there was no place for war criminals and Jamaat-Shibir.
Recalling the role of working people during the Liberation War in 1971 and now as well, he demanded rights and security of each worker across the country be ensured.
Imran said women took part in the war shoulder to shoulder with men and were still sacrificing to build a self-reliant Bangladesh.
Whenever women came out to join offices and industries for the development of the country, Jamaat had tried to obstruct it and create an adverse situation, he alleged, adding, "By trying war criminals and banning Jamaat, we can honour the sacrifices of our mothers and sisters [made in 1971]."
Al Jahid, acting general secretary of Bangladesh Chhatra Federation, said Jamaat during the war had declared that there would be no Islam if the country was liberated.
"Forty-two years have passed by and we have the independence and Islam as well," he said, adding that they were still carrying out the smear campaign which needs to be resisted.
Many other student leaders also addressed the rally.
As per Gonojagoron Mancha's previous announcement, a solidarity rally will be held at all educational institutions today at 11:00am.
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