Published on 12:00 AM, February 11, 2013

Govt behind Shahbagh

Claims Jamaat, plans to demonstrate tomorrow

Jamaat-e-Islami yesterday termed the countrywide demonstrations, including the Shahbagh one, a government plot to create anarchy in the country and force the tribunals to deliver verdicts as per its dictate.
The government was conspiring to create hatred against the Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Chhatra Shibir from the gatherings of their party activists, Jamaat acting secretary general Moulana Rafiqul Islam Khan said in a statement.
The party also announced to stage demonstrations across the country tomorrow for what it said to protest against the countrywide anarchy patronised by the government to implement its political agenda.
The demonstration is meant for pressing home their various demands, including dismantling of the war crimes tribunals, releasing the party's top leaders facing war crimes charges and restoration of the caretaker government system.
In the statement, Rafiqul said, “I strongly condemn and protest the government's ill move to create anarchy in the country through its patronage to make its petty political gains.”
The countrywide movement began after a war crimes tribunal on Tuesday sentenced Jamaat leader Quader Mollah to life term in prison for committing crimes against humanity during the Liberation War.
Hours after the verdict, a mass uproar started at Shahbagh intersection in the capital when an online activists' group gave a call through online social networks to wage protests against the verdict.
It continued for the sixth day yesterday amid spontaneous participation of several thousands pro-liberation activists.
In the statement, Rafiqul alleged that since formation of the tribunals, the ruling party MPs, ministers and leaders had been commenting on execution of top Jamaat leaders to run the tribunal proceedings as per the government's own plan.
“We want to clearly state that the people of the country won't let the government implement its plot chalked out to take its political revenge,” he said.
The Jamaat leader also sought cooperation from the countrymen, party leaders and activists to make their tomorrow's programme a success.