Jamaat atrocities attempt to 'grab' state power

From left, Sultana Kamal, Sarwar Ali, Kamal Lohani, Ziauddin Tarik Ali and Mohammad A Arafat at a press conference organised by Bangladesh Rukhe Darao, a civil society members' platform, in Dhaka Reporters Unity yesterday. Photo: Star

The countrywide atrocities of Jamaat-Shibir and some of their associate political organisations are nothing but attempts to “grab” state power, said eminent rights activist Sultana Kamal yesterday.
“It is absolutely clear that they have unleashed the violence not out of their love for religion,” she told a press conference organised by Bangladesh Rukhe Darao, a civil society members' platform, in Dhaka Reporters Unity.
The platform leaders announced to hold a national convention in the capital's Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh tomorrow at 10:00am to press home their five-point demand, including banning Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Chhatra Shibir.
They also demanded to expedite the war crimes trial; resist communal violence and support victims; take the country forward based on the Liberation War's spirit and allow free thinking; resist ill-attempts to turn the country into a Taliban-style state and uphold women's rights.
Sultana Kamal, the platform's convening committee member, demanded that Jamaat, as an organisation, be held responsible for committing war crimes as it publicly opposed the 1971 Liberation War.
“They are desecrating the national flag and vandalising Shaheed Minars. This kind of treason is beyond forgiveness,” she said.
He announced names of other committee members, including Dr Salahuddin Ahmed, Dr Zillur Rahman Siddiqui, Prof Emeritus Serajul Islam Choudhury, Prof Emeritus Dr Anisuzzaman, Dr Akbar Ali Khan, Ajoy Roy, Maj Gen (retd) KM Shafiullah, Dr Jamilur Reza Choudhury, Kamal Lohani, Barrister M Amir-Ul Islam, Advocate Rana Dasgupta, Dr Muhammed Zafar Iqbal, Shaheen Anam, Dr Ifthekharuzzaman and Rasheda K Chowdhury.