Protesters under the banner of ‘Anti-Autocracy General People’ held a procession and sit-in outside Jatiya Party Chairman Golam Mohammad Quader’s residence in Uttara, Dhaka, demanding his immediate arrest over allegations of betraying the martyrs of the July uprising and colluding with the ousted government.
Local students and general people took part in the programme this morning, gathering on the road in front of GM Quader’s residence and chanting slogans demanding his trial.
Banners displayed during the procession featured a portrait of GM Quader behind bars. One read: “Betraying the blood of July martyrs and maintaining contact with fascist killer Hasina; we demand GM Quader’s arrest.” Another stated: “There will be no place for fascism in this Bangladesh.”
The protesters alleged that, despite the changes brought about by the bloody July-August mass uprising, in which hundreds of people were killed, senior Jatiya Party leaders continued to maintain secret contacts with the ousted Awami League and Sheikh Hasina, who is staying in India.
Speakers at the protest said the Jatiya Party had helped politically legitimise the previous government by participating in the past three national elections.
They said no allies of fascism would be allowed to regain political ground in the new Bangladesh.
The protesters called on the government to bring GM Quader under the law immediately and ensure that he faces trial.
