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The Anatomy of Shahbag Movement: ‘The spring’ was hijacked

O Comrade, Shahbag could be a gathering of youth signature .Paradox, it served ultra nationalism rather liberal cosmopolitianism.It was aspired by facist political economy.Intellectual property was coverd up with psudo- patriotic mask to backup polical reality of extension of authoratirianism. So it was hijacked.Audiences were betrayed by their representive vocals due to fundamentalist notion of…

By Shigufa Saleheen

This year, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, was one of the biggest protests that the country had seen for a while. And it all started with a blog post. Shahbag Protests. 

The chance of many people around the world knowing of this event is quite minimal, but its significance is not.

Things started back in 1971, there was a war between Pakistan and Bangladesh for Bangladeshi independence known as the Liberation War. During this war, there was a lot of corruption with some Bangladeshi leaders– many of them switching sides and committing major disloyalty. But in 1973, they were pardoned and got a government amnesty for all of their crimes. This issue resurfaced again after the 2008 election when corruption in the government and the lack of prosecutions for war criminals cause a massive uproar in the country– a massive uproar which is still heavily present today.

There is a point beside the history lesson, however. The discontent in the country was overwhelming, but the things is– the change wasn’t brought by some great Bangladeshi leader or someone of high importance with speeches and campaigning. Change and protest came to be because of social networking. An online activist group, Blogger and Online Activists Network (BOAN) posted a blog post the night that controversial verdicts were announced and they called for their followers and blog readers to come to Shahbag square to protest and make a change.

And, look where that blog post has gotten them: 500,000+ people came to the square to protest and fight for a cause and slowly but surely, there are changes stirring in the small country of Bangladesh.This movement has spread to the United States as well, and many Bangladeshi communities all over the nation are holding their own little protests to show their support for the cause.

I don't know how people define the term 'Shahbagi'. Is this someone who lives around Shahbag? Someone who goes to Shahbag? Or someone who raised voice to demand 'justice' for war criminals of Liberation War of Bangladesh?

Well, it may seem unreasonable to demand 'justice' for war criminals (most of them are jamaat leaders) when the country has lots of other problems, like terror and violence. But it's jamaat who always let loose terror. It's jamaat who always goes berserk. Jamaat has always been against the independence of Bangladesh. Jamaat leader Golam Azam said that jamaat's headquarter is in Lahore. After Quader Mollah was hunged for his crimes during 1971 war, Pakistani Jamaat urges Pak army to attack Bangladesh. We have to ban jamaat from our country for the sake of our independence. 

I am Bangladeshi, and I don't have a fancy North-American/European passport. I spent most of my life in Bangladesh, and would like to spend the rest there. It's my duty, as a Bangladeshi, to protect the liberty of my nation. I want to live in Bangladesh, not in a jamaat lead 'Banglastan'.

During Shahbag movement, jamaat tried to spread propaganda against the movement to distract people's attention from trail of war criminals. Jamaat spent MILLIONS OF DOLLARS (not Taka, DOLLARS) to hire international lobbyist, who spread jamaat propaganda in international community. Note that, Nazis during WW2 used to spread propaganda to distract people's attention. 

The origin of the term 'Shahbagi' is perhaps jamaat's propaganda against war-crimes' trial. Those who demand justice for war criminals are tagged 'Shahbagi'. If so, I am proud to be a Shahbagi.

It's true that in later days, other political parties tried to use the movement for their political purpose. But that's another story. People, who started the movement, who seek war crimes justice, are apolitical. I have seen both BNP and Awami-league supporters protesting together, demanding war crimes justice.

I found this editorial piece very interesting (MUST READ) "Can a nation in which war criminals can hold their heads up high, arrogant and unbowed, ever move forward and face the future with confidence and assurance?"

During Rana Plaza Tragedy, 'Shahbagis' put their heart and soul into rescuing victims. Supporters of from all around the raised fund to help the victims. There was brave rescuer who died during rescue operation, he was 'Shahbagi'. 'Shahbagis' raised concern against 'Rampal Coal Power Plant' project of current BAL government. It's not true that 'Shahbagis' are not aware of real world problems. It's rather the opposite. They know better what are the real problems, and they are always concerned. They don't believe in propaganda. The don't spread propaganda. 

I feel proud when people put the 'Shahbagi' tag on me, because I know we are the majority.