Reaction of Shahbagh Leaders

L-R: Lucky Akhter, Maruf Rosul, Shamima Sultana , SM Shuva

After the passing of death sentence on Jamaat-e-Islami leader Delawar Hossain Sayedee, thousands celebrated the verdict wholeheartedly at Projonmo Chattar of Shahbagh where anti-war criminal campaigners have been demonstrating for the last 24 days. Some of the organisers of the movement talked to The Daily Star and shared their reactions about the movement and the verdict.

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Lucky Akhter
I think it is a great achievement for all of us. Jamaat-Shibir has created anarchy to influence the verdict, but the mass people resisted it.
The Shahbagh movement does not end here, and the verdict will act as an inspiration for us to take the movement forward.
We demand death penalty for all war criminals and banning of Jamaat-Shibir for their committing crimes against humanity during the Liberation War in 1971. We will continue our movement till fulfilment of our demands.

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Maruf Rosul
I think the anarchy of Jamaat-Shibir put a psychological strain on the International Crimes Tribunals. But the movement of Gonojagoron Mancha joined by people of all walks of life has helped the tribunal work independently and without fear.
We hope that the tribunal will sentence Quader Mollah and other war criminals to death as well. Our movement will continue because we are still to achieve the ultimate victory. We demand death penalty for all war criminals, we want Jamaat-Shibir to be banned.

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Shamima Sultana
If we term this movement as the second phase of the Liberation War, then we would like to say that this is the initial victory of this second liberation war.
On February 5, the International Crimes Tribunal-2 sentenced Abdul Quader Mollah to life term imprisonment, which was completely unacceptable. Following that, we together with the masses have launched a strong movement demanding death penalty for war criminals.
The movement will continue till sentencing of all other war criminals to death.

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SM Shuva
The verdict has established justice in one hand and reflected people's expectation on the other.
The government has amended the International Crimes Tribunal Act due to the 24 days' movement, which started off from Shahbagh and spread throughout the country.
So we can obviously say that the movement has made some significant achievements. We have the plan for carrying out a long-term movement to establish a prosperous and secular Bangladesh, imbued in the spirit of our Liberation War of 1971.