Shahbagh defies hartal

Several hundred people yesterday joined a procession led by the Shahbagh youths denouncing the Jamaat-sponsored hartal.
Staring around 10:00am, they marched through Bangla Motor and Karwan Bazar before returning to the Shahbagh intersection.
The protesters condemned attacks on religious minorities by Jamaat-e-Islami and its allies and demanded legal action against the perpetrators.
The Shahbagh intersection, widely called Projonmo Chattar, reverberated with slogans against hartals, Jamaat-Shibir and war criminals throughout the day as usual.
The signature campaign, which began on February 22, continued as on previous days.
A colourful stage has been constructed adjacent to the Public Library gate to showcase cultural performances based on the theme of resistance. The programmes, including documentary screening, songs, poetry recitations and theatre skits, will take place every evening till 10:00pm.
“Since the movement will go on for a long time, this [the cultural programme] will add a new dimension to the movement,” said Bappa Ditto Basu, a core organiser of the movement and president of Chhatra Moitree.
“It will also help us make the movement more sustainable.”
The organisers urged the people to join today's grand rally at Jatrabari in the capital.