Gonojagoron Mancha observes 1st anniversary

Exactly one year ago from yesterday Bangladesh saw one of the biggest demonstrations in recent times.
Youths, later joined by several thousand citizens of all ages, flooded and occupied the capital's Shahbagh intersection protesting the life sentence of war criminal Quader Mollah and demanding capital punishment.
The government dismantled the structures, dubbed as Gonojagoron Mancha, erected by the protestors there on February 22, five days after the International Crime Tribunal act was amended.
The amendment created the provision allowing an appeal against the life sentence, leading to the execution of Mollah on December 12 for crimes he committed against humanity during the 1971 Liberation War.
However, this one achievement is not the end of the movement, quipped Gonojagoron Mancha activists celebrating the movement's first anniversary yesterday.
Its Spokesperson Imran H Sarker administered an oath to sustain the movement until every war criminal was handed down the highest punishment, their economic, social and cultural organisations were boycotted and Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Chhatra Shibir were banned.
He also vowed that the movement will stand against communal attacks. Several hundred people brought out a procession touring past Bangla Motor and Dhaka University's Teacher-Student Centre bearing colorful, artsy placards and a gigantic version of the first flag of Bangladesh.
The Shahbagh intersection was adorned with street art and the road was lined with posters while women rights activist Rokeya Kabir unveiled a book which documented the movement.