Bangladesh: All Roads Lead To Shahbagh  · Global Voices
Rajib Kamal

At Shahbagh, the youth are taking charge and pushing politics aside for the fourth day running. Thousands of protesters continue to occupy the main intersection in Bangladesh's capital Dhaka demanding capital punishment for Abdul Quader Mollah, a leader of the Islamist party and other individuals being tried for war crimes committed during the 1971 liberation war.
They have waited 42 years for the accused to be tried, many of whom are now politicians with the Islamist party Jamaat-e Islami, and they say they won't back down till they believe justice is served.
Since its a Friday and a holiday, a huge crowd is expected to join the protests. A youth lead mass gathering will take place at 3:00PM in Shahbagh. The Blogger and Activists Network, Cultural Activists and Youth Organizations will address the mass gathering. No political slogan/speeches will be allowed. Political organizations are requested not to bring any political banners. The organizers have requested students from schools and colleges to join.
The Shahbagh protests are being live streamed by youth activists Shourov Hassan, Mahmudul Amin and Fahim Mahmud. You can watch the live stream here.
Live streaming of protests using a mobile phone. Image courtesy Matir Manush
Matir Manush writes on Facebook:
এই হচ্ছে সেই ডিজিটাল চোখ, যা দিয়ে শাহবাগ এর আন্দোলন দেখছে দেশ-বিদেশের ২৫০০ এর ও বেশি মানুষ…
This is the digital eye with which more than 2500 people are watching the Shahbagh protests concurrently.
The Blogger and Activists Network initiated this protest and uprising on Tuesday afternoon 5 February, after Jamaat-e-Islami leader Abdul Quader Mollah's verdict and sentence of life imprisonment was announced. Here are some scenes from Shahbagh (all images used with permission):
Ocean of People in Shahbagh. Image by Aninda Kabir Avik
Torch protests in Shahbagh. Image by Sharat Chowdhury
Slogan on the street demanding capital punishment. Image by Abdul Aleem Khan
Protests in Sylhet city. Image by Jamil Cowdhury.
Candle Light Protests. Image by Sharat Chowdhury
Here are some Twitter reactions:
#Shahbag People from all spectrum are joining the movement. Rich-poor-kids-senior citizens-war veterans-athletes. This is #Bangladesh.
— Prithvi Shams (@Prithvi_Shams) February 8, 2013
After over 4 decades of standing by while rapists and murderers were appointed govt ministers, we say enough. #shahbag #Bangladesh #71
— Tahmima Anam (@tahmima) February 8, 2013
You can follow the mass protests using #Shahbagh এবং #Shahbag Hashtags.