Disappointed with fresh protest plans the Ganajagaran Mancha rolled out a few hours before, a section of protesters at Shahbagh began a fast-unto-death from Tuesday night demanding a ban on the Jamaat-e-Islami.
A faction began the demonstration in front of National Museum gate at Shahbagh at 10:45pm. Among them were a group of six youths – Niloy, Shuvro, Akash, Ananda, Dwip and Joy.
An organisation ‘Shahid Rumi Squad’ called for the fast-unto-death programme to press for ban on Jamaat.
“The government is playing around with demands for ban on the Jamaat and their student affiliate Islami Chhatra Shibir,” Senjuti Shanima Nodi, an organiser of Shahid Rumi Squad, told bdnews24.com.
She highlighted their contributions to Ganajagaran Mancha, including the installation of the massive portrait of Jahanara Imam at Shahbagh. “We have nothing against the announcements from Ganajagaran Mancha.”
“This (hunger strike) is one of our forms of continued protests. We think hunger strike is the most effective form of non-violent movement. We expect everyone’s support.”
Mancha spokesperson Imran H Sarker had earlier announced that they would submit a memorandum to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Apr 4.
The announcement came from a rally at Shahbagh marking the nation’s 42nd anniversary of independence.
Calls for laying a ‘siege’ to Prime Minister’s Office were made during the Tuesday rally and at one point a protest was staged.
”Sarker shed light on the divided opinions after his stage speech. “We see many have demanded other programmes outside the programmes we have announced. We will announce tougher programmes in phases.”
“Come talk with the Mancha. We will force the government to meet our demands through tougher programmes,” he called out to the protesters.
Later, the small group of protesters announced a siege to the Prime Minister’s Office on Apr 4. “There is no other alternative,” journalist Faruk Wasif said.
“People want siege, if blocked we will go for fast-unto-death,” he said.
Ganajagaran Mancha leaders were not available for comment.
One Shibli Hassan from the Mancha’s media cell said anybody can raise individual demands. “But they will have to judge it for themselve how rational it is to be not with the common demand.”
A blogger Mahbub Rashid said “I want to be clear, we have nothing against Ganajagaran Mancha – not a bit. But we disagree with their programmes.”
He demanded tougher programmes. A torch procession will be taken out at 6:00pm on Wednesday, he said.
Several other bloggers including Babu Ahmed, Anis Raihan, Twisha Sayantani and Rinvi Tushar were present there.
Earlier on Feb 21, Mancha had set Mar 26 the deadline to begin the legal process to ban Jamaat for aiding and committing rape, genocide and other atrocities against freedom-seeking people in 1971.
Ganajagaran Mancha began on Feb 5, protesting what they said was lenient sentence on Jamaat Assistant Secretary General Abdul Quader Molla.
Differences among the protesters also surfaced on Feb 15 – the day when blogger Ahmed Rajib Haider was hacked to death. Sarker had announced continuation of demonstrations after the murder even though he had declared an end to nonstop demonstrations hours before that day.
Several other organisations were also involved with Mancha including many student and cultural organisations apart from the Blogger and Online Activists Network.
Source: bdnews24
