Several left-leaning student organizations staged a protest rally on Tuesday (May 27) against the acquittal of convicted war criminal and Jamaat-e-Islami leader ATM Azharul Islam, who was previously sentenced to death for crimes against humanity during the 1971 Liberation War.
The rally began at 5 PM from Madhur Canteen and marched through the Dhaka University campus, ending at the Raju Memorial Sculpture.
The protest was led by Shimul Kumbhakar, Central Secretary of the Bangladesh Student Union. Other participating organizations included the Bangladesh Student Union, Revolutionary Student Unity, Socialist Student Front, and Democratic Student Council.
“We’ve seen Jamaat-e-Islami cozy up to the Hasina government over the years, acting as its mouthpiece. Now they are trying to portray themselves as revolutionary forces in the new 2024 interim phase. But this interim government is betraying the hopes of people born out of a revolution. They are failing to bring justice for ongoing murders and targeted killings,” Shimul Kumbhakar said.
“We strongly condemn the acquittal of ATM Azhar, who was convicted for genocide during the Liberation War. We warn the interim government—there is no place in Bangladesh for war criminals,” added he.
Jabir Ahmed Jubel, Central Secretary of the Bangladesh Student Unity, called the verdict a disgrace to the nation. “We had hoped for an independent judiciary after the uprising. But this verdict has shattered that hope. Shockingly, the state’s legal team appeared to act more in favor of Azharul Islam, particularly his lawyer Tajul Islam. This cannot be considered justice.”
He continued, “We demand that true justice be restored. Do not hand over the legacy of our people`s revolution to Jamaat-e-Islami. Today’s rally is just the beginning—we will launch broader movements to remind the nation: we have not forgotten 1971.”
