Leftist orgs condemn Azharul’s acquittal

Left-leaning political parties and student organisations yesterday condemned the acquittal of Jamaat-e-Islami leader ATM Azharul Islam in a crimes against humanity case.

They also held protest marches in Dhaka University and Rajshahi University.

At least two leftist students were injured in a clash between "Anti-Shahbagh Union" -- comprising mostly Islami Chhatra Shibir members -- and left-leaning organisations at Rajshahi University, protesting the verdict. 

At DU, a march began around 5:00pm from Madhur Canteen and paraded through the campus, concluding at the base of the Raju Memorial Sculpture.

Shimul Kumbhakar, general secretary of a faction of Bangladesh Chhatra Union, said, "We saw that the government has acquitted ATM Azharul, who was said to be a commander of the Al-Badr force during the Liberation War. Now they're claiming he actually supported Bangladesh."

"We condemn the interim government for trying to rewrite history 54 years after our independence," he added.

Protesters said police attempted to stop them at the Shahbagh intersection, but they broke through the barrier and continued the march to the Raju Bhaskarjya.

Khalid Monsur, officer-in-charge of Shahbagh Police Station, denied the allegation.

Meanwhile, the Left Democratic Alliance issued a statement condemning the interim government over Azharul's acquittal.

The statement said the trials of individuals associated with Al-Badr and Al-Shams -- forces that opposed the Liberation War and committed crimes against humanity -- remain incomplete.

Photo: Screengrab

Even decades later, when the trial started, many convicted individuals' sentences could not be executed due to the previous fascist government's political agenda, it added.

The left-leaning Gonotantrik Chhatra Jote also rejected the verdict, saying it raises serious questions about the court's neutrality.

At Rajshahi University, two leftist students were injured in the clash.

According to witnesses, the clash took place around 8:00pm at the university's Paribahan Chattar, as left-leaning students were preparing to hold a torch procession protesting the verdict.

Later, around 10:15pm, RU Jatiotabadi Chhatra Dal organised a protest march demanding a safe campus and condemning the attack on students.

Fuadul Islam, convener of the Samajtantrik Chhatra Front of the RU unit, said they had been waiting to begin their scheduled programme as the Anti-Shahbagh Union was already holding one.

"We were waiting for their programme to end. However, they suddenly started attacking us with chairs," he alleged.

RU Shibir Publicity Secretary Nowshaz Zaman was present during the attack, he said.

However, Ariful Islam of the Anti-Shahbagh Union claimed, "The leftist leaders mocked us by calling us Jamaat-Shibir. When we approached them to talk, they attacked us instead. I was also assaulted."

Assistant Proctor Nasir Uddin confirmed the incident, saying both groups blamed each other for the attack. "We are on alert to prevent any escalation," he added.