Try Awami League on genocide charges: Nagorik Committee
The platform commemorates 100th day of the July-August mass uprising today
Commemorating the 100th day of the July-August mass uprising on Friday, the Jatiya Nagorik Committee has demanded trial of the Awami League on genocide charges for the killings during the student-public mass uprising.
They also called for rehabilitation of families of those killed or injured in the July-August mass uprising.
On the day, the Anti-discrimination Student Movement offered prayers at the graves of the mass uprising victims in various districts, including in the capital's Rayerbazar Graveyard. They also visited families of the injured.
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Joining the commemorating programme on the Central Shaheed Minar premises, Nagorik Committee Convener Nasiruddin Patwary warned those parties who are allegedly trying to rehabilitate the pro-Awami League teachers, businesspeople and intellectuals.
"Otherwise, your political apparatus will be taken over by the students, and the 'legitimacy' you are now talking about for the next general elections will be buried," he said.
Alleging that many parties are striving to shape political narratives involving the injured of the mass uprising, Nasir also warned against manipulating the spirit of the revolution.
He also called upon the interim government to evict the pro-Awami League individuals who continue to hold various positions within the state, and asked for clarification regarding the public criticisms regarding the activities of the advisers.
Citing a remark by former minister Obaidul Quader that the Chhatra League is enough to overthrow the student movement, Nagorik Committee member Ariful Islam said the Awami League had perpetrated acts of genocide from an organisational standpoint, and also leveraged law enforcement agencies for its own purposes.
Another member Akram Hossain said those who fear to recognise the Awami League as 'fascist' have no right to do politics in Bangladesh. "Our movement will continue until the fascism of the Awami League is eradicated from the country forever."
Spokesperson of the committee Umama Fatema said many are yet to trace their family members who went missing during the mass uprising.
She called for a governmental initiative involving modern technology and DNA testing to identify deceased individuals who remain unclaimed, and to compile a list.
Another member Moshiur Rahman and member secretary Arif Sohel also spoke.
