Dhaka: The ‘Shahbagh Spring’ sit-in demo venue suddenly came all quiet at 7:00pm on Wednesday for installation of a mammoth Jahanara Imam picture honouring the great mother of the Libetration War to join the second phase of the war of the new generation.

The slogan-echoing Shahbagh’s Projonmo Chattar suddenly fell silent abruptly after day-long buzz of beautiful slogans turning into sweet songs at sharp 7:00pm to formally invite the Shaheed Janani to the new Liberation War front unveiling her mammoth picture at the demo venue.

Just after removing the black-screen from the picture of Jahanara Imam, thousands of people chanted in unison, “Shaheed Janani Jahanara Imam Lao Salam, Lao Salam” staring at the 35 feet long portrait of the great mother.    

Then tens of thousands of people spreading from Shahbagh to TSC and Ruposhi Bangla Hotel to Dhaka Club chanted Joy Bangla that echoed all around the demo venue.

The Shahbagh Spring demo made even the silence as glorious weapons of protest and inspired millions to wake up and join the unique demonstration.

Prior to this silence, the whole nation fell silent on Tuesday wherever they were demanding death to convicted war criminals including Abdul Quader Mollah.

A candlelit vigil will be observed across the country at about 7:00 pm on Thursday to pay respect the martyrs who sacrificed their lives during the country's War of Liberation in 1971 as well as those who killed by Jamaat-e-Islami afterwards.

Convener of Blogger and Online Activist Network Dr Imran H Sarker announced this at the Shahbagh Square on Tuesday and urged all to observe the programme.

Welcoming Pahela Falgun, the king of seasons and first day of Basanto, in a different tune this year, half of the demonstrators attired in traditional yellow dress joined the protest at the intersection, chanting slogans "ei bashonte bashonta dag (mark of chickenpox) nipat jak, nipat jak".

Pahela Falgun heralds the first day of the spring and every year in Bangladesh, the occasion was marked with festivity and welcome songs. But this year, Falgun was welcomed by rendering protest songs at Shahbagh.

On Wednesday, the  ‘Shahbagh Spring’ sit-in demo gained further momentum with the advent of Falgun, Dhaka University students urged the authorities to postpone their examinations and classes so that they could join the spontaneous gathering at Prajanma Chattar without any strain.   

Expressing their solitarily with the movement, the students of Dhaka University, the country’s highest seat of leaning that had played glorious roles in the country’s all democratic movements, staged demonstrations on the campus demanding that the classes and examinations be postponed and rescheduled. 

In a dramatic decision, the Jatiya Press Club (JPC) cancelled the permanent memberships of Jamaat-e-Islami assistant secretaries general Abdul Quader Mollah and Mohammad Kamaruzzaman in the face of mounting pressure by the Shahbagh Spring demo.

With their decisive demand for execution of all the war criminals, including Jamaat leader Abdul Quader Mollah, a large number of protesters again filled the Shahbagh Square for the ninth consecutive day on Wednesday morning.

The demonstrators from different professions started Wednesday’s programme with rendering together the national anthem at 6:00am and then delivered their speeches as they did for over a week.

Students from different educational institutions and other organisations kept on thronging the mass sit-in demo venue expressing solidarity with the protestors’ demand on Wednesday.

Those who expressed solidarity on Wednesday are officials and employees of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, students of Queen’s College, Stamford College, Chemistry department of Dhaka University, Siddeshwari Girls’ College, Southeast University, University of Asia Pacific, Motijheel Government Boys’ High School, Health Economics department of DU, University of Laboratory School and College, Sammilita Nari Samaj, Bangladesh Karmachari Samiti, CPB leader Mujahidul Islam Selim, president of Sammilita Sangskitik Jote Nasir Uddin Yusuf  and three freedom fighters-- Mosharraf Hossain, Asgar Ali, Ahad Ali and Shamsul Alam Chowdhury, singer of Sadin Bangla Beter Kendra Timir Chowdhury, actor Miju Ahmed and actress Banna Mirza.              

Biswa Kala Kendra and Dhakabashi Sangathan along with a rally, ‘Basanta and Valentine Day’, arrived at the Shahbagh Square, now renamed by the protesters as Prajanma Chattar.

There were three slogans, mainly aimed at pressing for the demand for awarding capital punishment to all war criminals, marking the Pahela Falgun on Wednesday.     

Many youths and even senior citizens appeared at the Chattar wearing Falgun attires.   

At their Friday’s grand rally, the protesters vowed to continue their movement until all the war criminals are tried and given capital punishment.

The mass uproar at Shahbagh broke out just hours after the verdict against Jamaat leader Abdul Quader Mollah when an online activists’ group, Blogger and Online Activists Network (BOAN), gave a call through online social networks to wage protests against the verdict.

On February 5, the International Crimes Tribunal-2 (ICT-2) sentenced Quader Mollah, assistant general secretary of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, to life term in jail for his crimes against humanity during the Liberation War in 1971.

Ends/AMA/13/02/13