The billboard, installed two days earlier under the title “Judicial Killing,” was put up by Nabho Culture, an organisation led by Rajshahi University Central Students’ Union (Rucsu) GS Salahuddin.
Students protest at Rajshahi University over a billboard featuring individuals convicted and executed for 1971 Liberation War crimes. Photo: TBS
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Students protest at Rajshahi University over a billboard featuring individuals convicted and executed for 1971 Liberation War crimes. Photo: TBS
The Rajshahi University (RU) authorities have decided to remove a billboard featuring images of individuals executed after being convicted of crimes against humanity committed during the Liberation War, following protests by students.
“We requested Rucsu General Secretary Salahuddin Ammar to remove the billboard in response to the students’ demands, but he declined. The university administration has therefore decided to erase the billboards displaying those images,” RU Proctor Prof Md Mahbubor Rahman said last night (2 August).
The billboard, installed two days earlier under the title “Judicial Killing,” was put up by Nabho Culture, an organisation led by Rajshahi University Central Students’ Union (Rucsu) GS Salahuddin.
It displayed photographs of Jamaat-e-Islami leaders Motiur Rahman Nizami, Delwar Hossain Sayeedi, Mir Quasem Ali, Abdul Quader Mollah and Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid, along with BNP leader Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury – all of them convicted by the International Crimes Tribunal for crimes against humanity committed during the 1971 Liberation War and subsequently executed.
Several student organisations launched a protest yesterday afternoon, demanding the billboard’s removal.
Around 10:15pm, the university administration informed protesters that the billboard would be removed, prompting them to withdraw their demonstration.
Sadeq Rahman, a student in the Department of Theatre, alleged that the billboard was part of an effort to “normalise” individuals identified as collaborators during the Liberation War.
“The administration has assured us that the billboards will be removed tonight. Based on that assurance, we are withdrawing today’s programme. If the promise is not fulfilled, we will announce further action,” he said.
Fuad Ratul, convener of the university unit of the Socialist Students’ Front, said any attempt to rehabilitate or normalise individuals convicted of war crimes is unacceptable.
“The issue of war crimes is a fundamental national issue. The 2024 uprising or opposition to Sheikh Hasina’s authoritarian rule cannot be used as a pretext to promote war-crime ideology or rehabilitate those associated with it,” he said.
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