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Leaders and activists of leftist student organisations held a protest rally on the Dhaka University (DU) campus on Friday, denouncing the release of convicted war criminal Jamaat-e-Islami leader ATM Azharul Islam and the recent attacks on their processions at Rajshahi University and in Chittagong.
The rally began at 5:00 pm in front of the Raju Sculpture under the banner of the Democratic Students Alliance.
The leaders and activists of the Bangladesh Students' Union, Socialist Students' Front, Revolutionary Student Unity, and Democratic Students' Federation participated in the protests. Addressing the rally, student leaders alleged that the trial process for ATM Azhar was a faulty one.
They claimed that the government-appointed lawyer had acted in favour of the accused, compromising the integrity of the case.
The speakers also strongly condemned the attacks on their demonstrators in recent weeks.
Armanul Haque, convener of the DU unit of the Bangladesh Democratic Students' Front, said, "We viewed the war crime verdicts during the Awami League regime as farcical. Though we had hoped for justice under the interim government, the trial for ATM Azhar has proven to be a mockery."
He further alleged that the verdict served the interests of both the criminals and the government.
Criticising the attacks on the Democratic Students Alliance, Armanul said, "Several anonymous platforms have emerged after August 5. One such group, named Shahbagh Birodhi Oikya, carried out attacks on protesters in Rajshahi University and Chittagong. Another group, Students for Sovereignty, assaulted participants at an ethnic cultural programme on January 15 last."
He claimed that these platforms are backed by Islami Chhatra Shibir, stating, "It's now clear that they are guided and supported by Shibir."
He also alleged that Shibir had not yet publicly revealed its full committee, making it difficult to identify the attackers.
Mozammel Haque, convener of the DU unit Socialist Students' Front, accused the state of ongoing interference in the judiciary, a practice which, he said, continued from the Awami League era. He demanded comprehensive reforms in the judicial system.
Condemning the recent violence, he said, "We still stand against terrorism. Terrorists should be boycotted socially."
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