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Bangladesh war crimes protests continue

Trial of politicians allegedly involved in crimes during the country’s 1971 liberation war has led to weeks of protest.

People observe a sit-in protest around a national flag of Bangladesh with a map of the country on it, made by flowers, as they attend a mass demonstration at Shahbagh intersection in central Dhaka. Tens of thousands of demonstrators have been camping in Shahbag Square for weeks to demand the execution of several Jamaat-e-Islami leaders accused of involvement in murder and other atrocities during country(***)s liberation war in 1971.
Published On 19 Feb 2013

Bangladesh continues to face political and social unrest, as leaders of the opposition Jamaat-e-Islami political party are on trial accused of involvement in murder and other atrocities during country’s liberation war in 1971.

Tens of thousands of demonstrators have been camping in the central Shahbag Square in the capital, Dhaka, for the last couple of weeks demanding capital punishment for those found guilty.

Supporters of Jamaat-e-Islami have also been staging rallies. 

Protests erupted after Abdul Quader Mollah, Jamaat’s assistant secretary-general, was sentenced to life for murder, rape and torture.

Eight other Jamaat leaders, including its current and former chiefs, are being tried by the tribunal, set up in 2010 to investigate abuses during the 1971 conflict.

Tens of thousand of pro-liberation Bengalis were killed during the war, many by pro-Pakistani militias whose members allegedly included Jamaat officials.

Supporters of Jamaat have held rallies to question the war tribunal’s neutrality.

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People attend a mass demonstration at Shahbag intersection. About 100,000 people rallied in Bangladesh(***)s capital. The protests were triggered by the life sentence imposed on Abdul Quader Mollah, assistant secretary-general of Jamaat. Most Bangladeshis had expected a death sentence on charges of murder, rape and torture.
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Bangladeshis attend a mass candlelight vigil around a portrait of Jahanara Imam, a late political activist  widely known for bringing people accused of committing war crimes in the Bangladesh Liberation War to trial. Millions of people across the country expressed their solidarity with the Shahbagh movement during a candlelight vigil at 7 PM on February 14th.
A Bangladeshi youth shouts slogans as Bangladeshi social activists and bloggers participate in a demonstration demanding the death sentence for the country(***)s war criminal. At least 14 people have been killed so far during protests against government trials of Jamaat leaders.
People walk under a huge  Bangladeshi flag as they attend a mass demonstration at Shahbag. The country(***)s parliament amended war crimes laws last week to allow groups, not just individuals, to be prosecuted for war crimes. It will also allow for an appeal against Mollah(***)s life sentence.
A depiction of the war criminals hanging is seen during a nationwide strike in Dhaka, the capital.
People attend a sit-in protest at Shahbagh on February 7, the third day of protests. Eight other Jamaat leaders, including its current and former chiefs, are being tried by the tribunal, set up in 2010 to investigate abuses during the 1971 conflict.
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A man holds a Bangladesh national flag as he chants a slogan before a mass funeral as the body of Rajib Haider, an architect and blogger who was a key figure in organising demonstrations, arrives at Shahbag intersection. More than 100,000 Bangladeshi protesters, angered by the killing of one of their leaders, poured back onto the streets of the capital after Haider was attacked outside his home on the night of February 15.