March 2,1971 is a historic day when the flag of Bangladesh flew proudly for the first time, informing the world of its imminent arrival. A few courageous students of Dhaka University raised the flag with the vision of a free country.
Forty-two years into the independence, youths of a different generation with the spirit of the Liberation War hoisted the national flag yesterday across the country, warning that the countdown to the end of anti-liberation forces in Bangladesh has begun.
The hoisting of the national flag on March 2, 2013 was no less relevant and emotion-laden as only a few days ago on
February 22, the entire nation saw Jamaat-Shibir men desecrate it publicly
"Atrocities by the 'hyenas' of Jamaat-Shibir [in the last few days] and the desecration of the national flag are unprecedented," said Imran H Sarker, spokesperson for the Ganajagaran Mancha, a movement for death penalty for all war criminals and a ban on Jamaat-Shibir.
"There is no place for war criminals in this Bangla,"he said.
People from all walks of life, first in hundreds and then in thousands, joined the flag hoisting ceremony at Shahbagh intersection, now christened "Projonmo Chattar" where the demonstration has been on for the last 27 days.
As the tune of the national anthem filled the air, Imran on behalf of the protestors hoisted the national flag at 11:25am. It was as if the response of the protesters enraged by the recent insult to the national spirit by Jamaat-Shibir.
People also responded
to the call from Shahbagh on February 28 by raising the national flag in educational institutions, factories and homes across the country.
The protestors also called upon all to resist the three-day hartal starting from today the way they had done it previously. Anti-hartal slogans were chanted throughout the day at the venue.
Earlier the Jamaat-e-Islami called a two-day hartal from today in protest at what they claim is killing of party men in the last few days by law enforcers and activists of the ruling party. Its ally BNP too called a hartal for Tuesday "to protest the mass killing by the government and its corruption and misrule".
As per previously announced programme, demonstrations took place in front of many educational institutions across the country yesterday to engage more people in the movement and to press home the six-point demand made by Projonmo Chattar.
Leaders of student bod-
ies associated with different political parties under the banner, "Gonojagoron Mancha, Dhaka University" brought out a procession from Madhur Canteen, protesting the ongoing violence by Shibir men.
Members of the "Bloggers and Online Activists Network" that had initiated the movement also joined the procession that ended in front of Raju Bhaskorjo at about 1:00pm after parading different key points of the university campus. Then a rally was held.
Addressing the protesters at DU, Imran highlighted DU students had always been on the forefront of all major movements in the history as in the 1952 language movement, '69 mass uprising and '71 Liberation War.
"If DU students come out on the streets in full force, it would not be too difficult for us to realise our six-point demand.
Samia Rahman, presi-dent of Chhatra Federation, DU unit, said, "Attempts have been made to destroy the communal
harmony in the country many times, but as a nation, we have fought communal forces and won in 1971.
"Even now, Jamaat-Shibir men are trying to split us through what we see the violence against the minority communities after the verdict [against Jamaat leader Delawar Hossain Sayedee in a war crimes case]," she said.
Rashed Shahriar, president of Shamajtantrik Chhatra Front, DU unit, said, "We hoisted the national flag today with the same spirit our predecessors had while raising it." HOISTING FLAG AT DU Dhaka University celebrated forty-two years of hoisting the national flag on its campus yesterday with a vow to fight for ensuring trial of war criminals, bringing the pride of the national flag back and building a non-communal Bangladesh.
Expressing solidarity with the Shahbagh protesters, several hundred students gathered in front of the arts building where they took an oath to make a non-communal country
which will be free of war criminals.
Jayaddhani, a campusbased cultural group, organised the programme to commemorate the wartime turbulent days in 1971.
Former vice-president of Dhaka University Central Students Union ASM Abdur Rab raised the flag on the campus, followed by rendition of popular liberation songs like "Joy Bangla", "Teer hara AeiDheuerSagor" by members of the organisation.
Jayaddhani, also brought out a procession from the central Shaheed Minar, carrying a 100-feet-long flag. The procession ended at the base of Aparajaya Bangla.
ANNOUNCEMENT FROM SHAHBAGH
Following widespread violence carried out by activists of the main opposition BNP in collaboration with Jamaat in the capital, Imran made an announcement, addressing the gathering at Shahbagh.
"They have spread hatred and communal violence in postindependent Bangladesh.
They have brought about the darkness of the middle ages in our civilisation. We have to challenge and defeat this evil force."
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia at the Friday's press conference has further instigated such communal violence. She shamelessly gave support to anti-liberation force Jamaat and its "terrorist" student wing Chhatra Shibir. She has instigated these “hyenas” to carry out communal riots, Imran said.
This ill-strategy will remain as a dark chapter in history.
Gonojagoron Mancha wants to clearly state that Bangalees would never accept these ill-attempts intended to spread communal riots, Imran said.
"We urge people of this country, irrespective of their religious views, to collectively resist and challenge these terrorist of Jamaat-Shibir.”
He also urged people to participate in the rally at Bahadur Shah Park in the capital at 3:00pm today.