War crimes convicts' photos spark leftists' outrage

Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir's exhibition to mark July uprising day featuring Motiur Rahman Nizami, Delwar Hossain Sayeedi, Abdul Quader Molla, among a few others convicted of crimes committed during the 1971 Liberation War, has sparked outrage from leftist activists.

As part of a three-day programme to observe July Mass Uprising Day - to mark a movement that ousted the authoritarian Awami League regime last year -- Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir, the student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami, held the exhibition at the TSC area of Dhaka University.

The event triggered strong criticism from leftist students after photos of several former Jamaat-e-Islami leaders, convicted for war crimes, were displayed, which lead the university's proctorial team to take down the banner.

After the photos went viral on social media Tuesday afternoon, some students and leftist activists gathered at TSC, demanding the removal of the banner.

Titled "Judicial Killings" the banner included pictures of war crimes convicts such as Motiur Rahman Nizami, Delwar Hossain Sayeedi, Abdul Quader Molla, Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury, Mir Quasem Ali, Mohammad Kamaruzzaman, and Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid.

In response, DU Assistant Proctor Rafiqul Islam removed the banner in the evening, with consent from Shibir.

That night, around 9:30 PM, Shibir held a press conference at the TSC auditorium. SM Farhad, president of Shibir's DU unit, said they arranged the exhibition to present politically motivated killings carried out under the cover of justice during fascist rule.

"We shared facts and evidence showing how Sheikh Hasina's government used a fake justice system to eliminate political rivals," he said. "This exhibition was our peaceful protest against injustice and oppression."

He also claimed that some leftist student activists tried to disrupt their event. "Sadly, some of them created a mob and acted in a rude and aggressive way," he said. "These are the same groups who, in 2013, turned Shahbagh into a place for mob justice. That moment in history introduced things like enforced disappearances, crossfire killings, and a culture where crimes go unpunished", he added.

Earlier, reacting to the event, Jabir Ahmed Jubel, general secretary of Biplobi Chhatra Moitri, wrote on Facebook, "By showing war criminals' photos at TSC, Shibir is trying to compare July with 1971." "We've informed the administration. If they continue this process of symbolically rehabilitating war criminals, they'll face strong protest from students who stand for the spirit of the Liberation War."

After the banner was removed, Assistant Proctor Rafiqul Islam confirmed that students had made complaints, and Shibir had agreed to remove it peacefully.

However, on Wednesday afternoon, Shibir again put up new posters on the same wall. These included quotes from former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia on the war crimes trial, references to the controversial Skype scandal, and statements from international figures like Geoffrey Robertson and Suranjan Bali. The posters also mentioned alleged false witness testimonies.

Md. Sajjad Hossain Khan, Shibir's publicity secretary at DU, said they are clearly against what they call "judicial killings" and that their position has always been in favour of truth and justice.

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