2013 Shahbag protests

Protesters' demands

Over several days, protesters increased their demands, asking for:

• Death penalty for Mollah
• Death sentences for those convicted of war crimes by the International War Crimes Tribunal
• A ban of Jamaat from Bangladeshi politics
• A boycott of Jamaat institutions

Development

Origins

Protest began right after the verdict was announced. Student organizations started the protest immediately after the Judgement in the Shahbag square. On 7 February, demonstrations began at 8 am. Thousands of people gathered with banners, posters, Bangladeshi flags and placards in Shahbag with their demands. On Friday afternoon, a mass rally was held at Shahbag with an estimated attendance of more than 100,000.

On 12 February, protesters observed three minutes of silence at 4 pm at Shahbag and all across Bangladesh. In Dhaka, traffic was stopped as thousands of people took to the streets, formed human chains and stood in silence. A Bangladesh Premier League game at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium halted for three minutes, as players and supporters observed the silence. Parliamentarians and the police also joined the protest. Bengali singer Kabir Suman wrote a song entitled "Tin Minit" ("Three Minutes") in honour of the silent protest.

Further developments

On 21 February, International Mother Language Day, the number of protesters reached a new high. Its leadership declared 26 March 2013, the Independence Day of Bangladesh, as the deadline for the government to ban Jamaat-e-Islami from politics.

Seven protesters began a fast until death on 26 March at 10:30 pm in front of the National Museum, protesting "inadequate government action" to ban Jamaat in response to the Shahbag protesters' ultimatum. The protesters said at a press briefing that they would send an open letter to Prime Minister Hasina during the 100th hour of their protests. More than 100 organizations expressed solidarity with the hunger strikers.

Sentencing of Delwar Hossain Sayeedi

On 28 February the International Crimes Tribunal sentenced Delwar Hossain Sayeedi, Nayeb-e-Ameer (vice-president) of Jamaat-e-Islami, to death for convictions on 8 out of 20 charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.

Counter-demonstrations

Jamaat followers were enraged by the decision, claiming that the case against Sayeedi was politically motivated. His lawyer, Abdur Razzaq, accused authorities of preventing a key witness from testifying and intentionally slanting the process. "This is a perverse judgment. It is inconceivable that a court of law awarded him a conviction. This prosecution was for a political purpose", Razzaq said. Jamaat quickly called for a nationwide two-day strike, to start on 3 March. By afternoon, violence led by Jamaat-e-Islami supporters had erupted across Bangladesh. "The Jamaat-e-Islami is fighting for its political survival", said a spokesperson. By the end of the day thirty-five people were dead, including three police officers; an additional eight hundred were injured. According to the BBC, it marked "the worst day of political violence in Bangladesh in decades".

Clashes between police and Jamaat-e-Islami workers continued on 1 March, spreading to the northern districts of Gaibandha and Chapai Nawabganj. Opposition leader Khaleda Zia criticised government and called for a demonstration in the capital, Dhaka. Security measures were increased to prevent the situation from escalating. The death toll rose to forty-four (including six policemen). Former prime minister and BNP member Khaleda Zia declared a nationwide dawn-to-dusk strike for 5 March, and called for countrywide rallies on 2 March to protest what she called government corruption, misrule, oppression, and "mass killings".

Violent conflict continued on 2 March, with another four deaths and hundreds of injuries. In Chittagong district police opened fire on Jamaat-e-Islami protesters, leading to three deaths. In Nilphamari, a young person died in a clash between protesters and police.

On 3 March, violence continued as the Jamaat-organised strike began. In Bogra Jamaat supporters attacked police outposts with sticks and homemade bombs, leading to at least eight deaths. In Godagari two deaths were reported in a similar incident, and three deaths were reported in the Joypurhat district. Violence continued in Chittagong as well, where Jamaat claimed that police opened fire without provocation. The government denied the charge, saying that violence against citizens and police would not be tolerated; three deaths were reported. "People in the street are very, very afraid of Jamaat-e-Islam. I am scared", reported an eyewitness in Dhaka. Jamaat supporters were accused of attacking Hindu citizens and their homes in many parts of the country, and torching Hindu temples. More than 40 temples and many statues were destroyed and scores of houses set ablaze, leaving hundreds of people homeless throughout the country.

Amnesty International has urged the Bangladeshi government to provide better protection for minority Hindus. Abbas Faiz, the organization's Bangladesh researcher, has noted that the attacks on the Hindu community were a shocking development in the recent history of Bangladesh.

Reactions

Domestic response

The Shahbag protests has attracted people from all walks of life and in Shahbag intersection at the centre of the protests has been referred to as "Generation Circle" (Bengali: প্রজন্ম চত্ত্বর Projônmo Chôttor) or "Shahbag Square", in a nod to the events which unfolded in Tahrir Square, Cairo. The protest spread from Shahbagh to other parts of the country, with sit-ins and demonstrations in Chittagong, Rajshahi, Khulna, Sylhet, Barisal, Mymensingh, Rajbari, Rangpur, Comilla, Bogra, Narayanganj, Sunamganj, Noakhali and Narsingdi.

Political response

State Minister for Law, Quamrul Islam, said that the verdict against Abdul Quader Mollah could have been different if people had taken to the streets sooner. The government is planning to file appeals with the Supreme Court contesting the sentence for Mollah. On 11 February the Cabinet approved proposed amendments to the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act 1973, introducing a provision for plaintiffs to appeal verdicts handed down by the tribunal. This amendment, if passed, would enable the state to appeal Mollah's life sentence.

Jamaat-e-Islami, which was already staging protests against the impending trial of its leaders, called for a general strike. Jamaat continues to demand that the international war crimes tribunal be stopped and its party leaders freed. Jamaat supporters had staged nationwide demonstrations with increasing frequency from November 2012 to February 2013, demanding the release of its leaders. Actions included firing gunshots, smashing and setting fire to vehicles and detonating homemade bombs. Violence was targeted at police stationed in the capital, Dhaka, and major cities such as Rajshahi, Cox's Bazar, Chittagong, Rangpur, Dinajpur and Khulna. Several Jamaat-Shibir political activists were arrested during the strikes and confrontations with police.

Reaction from Bangladeshis abroad

Bangladeshis abroad have expressed solidarity with the protests through social media websites Facebook and Twitter. Demonstrations of solidarity have also taken place in Australia, Malaysia, Germany, and the United States.

Bangladeshis in New York City joined in a symbolic protest on 9 February at Diversity Plaza in Jackson Heights. A mass sit-in was organised by the Bangladeshi community in Sydney on 10 February at the International Mother Language Monument in Sydney Ashfield Park. At a rally at the Angel Statue in Melbourne, demonstrators signed a petition to Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina demanding death for war criminals.

On 10 February, Bangladeshi students gathered at Rutgers University in New Jersey to express solidarity with the Shahbag protests. Bangladeshi students at the University of Delaware and nearby residents demonstrated their solidarity with the Shahbag movement on 15 February at a busy intersection in Newark, Delaware. A candlelight vigil was held that evening for Rajib, a blogger and human rights activist who was killed several hours before the demonstration.

In London, protesters at Altab Ali Park in solidarity for Shahbag were attacked by Jamaat-e-Islami supporters. Protests are held at the park every week by both sides.

International response

On 18 February British Foreign Office minister Sayeeda Warsi hailed the Shahbag Square protests, describing them as peaceful, productive and non-violent. An article in the Fletcher Forum of World Affairs by Suzannah Linton on 27 February expressed concern about "bloodlust in Bangladesh" and called on the international community to steer the process towards international standards.

Media coverage

International media outlets such as BBC, CNN, Al Jazeera English, The New York Times, and The Independent have published numerous reports and articles on the protests, with BBC Bangla closely monitoring and documenting the events. Additionally, Reuters photographer Andrew Biraj published live photographs from the massive Shahbag demonstrations.

Social media played a crucial role in disseminating news globally about events at Shahbag. A Facebook event was created, calling for a protest at Shahbag, resulting in the formation of the viral human chain on 5 February 2013. Facebook served as one of the primary sources of information about the Shahbag protests among its activists. Bangladeshis utilized the X (formally Twitter) hashtag #shahbag to provide live updates on the movement.

Outcome

The demonstration exerted pressure on the government, prompting amendments to the International Crimes Tribunal Act to facilitate the swift execution of war criminals upon conviction. The cabinet established a 60-day limit for the Supreme Court's Appellate Division to adjudicate appeals, ensuring expeditious case progress. In response to widespread protests, Jute and Textiles Minister Abdul Latif Siddiqui announced on 12 February that a bill is in the drafting stage to prohibit Jamaat-e-Islami from participating in Bangladeshi politics.

On 17 September 2013, the Bangladesh Supreme Court found Abdul Quader Mollah guilty of several counts of premeditated murder and war crimes which were committed during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War and ordered his execution. He was subsequently executed on 12 December 2013.

Controversies surrounding the protests

• During the movement, protesters used various slogans. These included "Ekta ekta Shibir dhor, dhoira dhoira jobai kor." ("Catch Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir activists one by one, and slaughter them."), "Rajakarer chamra, kutta diya kamra." ("Make dogs chew on the skin of razakars."), among others, which were accused of promoting violence. Threats were directed against academic Piash Karim for his stance against the tribunals, while boycotts and death threats were declared against Asif Nazrul, Farhad Mazhar and Motiur Rahman Chowdhury.
• The Awami League fully supported the prosecution of the individuals who were responsible for the genocide and war crimes committed during the 1971 War of Liberation. Since the beginning of the war tribunal proceedings held by the International Crimes Tribunal, which consisted of a three-member judge, a seven-member investigation agency, and a twelve-member prosecution team, 83 individuals have been prosecuted, with 52 receiving the death penalty. Many critics argue that the movement was partially orchestrated by the government to garner public support for the prosecution of the far-right Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami leaders, thereby consolidating power 42 years after the war.
• On 25 October 2014, a Shahbag movement's leader named Mahmudul Haque Munshi attempted to hurl a shoe at the vehicle carrying the coffin of Golam Azam after his funeral. Shahbag protesters called for boycotting institutions run by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islam political leaders such as Islami Bank and Retina Coaching Centre. The Bangladesh Chhatra League was accused of coercing students from various residential halls of the University of Dhaka to join the rallies. Mass protests were held, urging the boycott of certain right-wing media outlets critical of the war tribunals, which included Diganta Television, Daily Naya Diganta, Amar Desh, and The Daily Sangram,
• Shahbag is home to many important, national and largest hospitals in Dhaka, including BIRDEM General Hospital, Ibrahim Medical College. The prolonged blockade of this crucial and sensitive road by protesters for over a month was accused of causing substantial suffering for patients.

Timeline

In the wake of Abdul Quader Mollah's life imprisonment sentence on 5 February, the Shahbag protests unfolded with increasing intensity, expanding beyond Shahbag Square to other cities and towns.

• 5 February - Abdul Quader Mollah is sentenced to life imprisonment. Initial gathering of protesters in Shahbag Square (also known as Shahbag Circle).
• 6–7 February - Protests intensify, crowds grow bigger, other cities and towns pick up protest. Bangladeshi diaspora and student communities abroad also begin to express solidarity with the protest.
• 8 February - Hundreds of thousands attend afternoon rallies in Shahbag and nationwide. Muhammed Zafar Iqbal and others address the crowds.
• 9–10 February - Protest continues countrywide.
• 12 February - A 3 minute silence is observed in Shahbag and all across the country. Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir attempts to disrupt with a mid-day rally which quickly turns violent as they use guns and bombs against police.
• 15 February - Protester and blogger Ahmed Rajib Haider is killed. Haider had actively participated in the protest from the beginning and had written several blogs against Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami activities.
• 16 February - Thousands of people from all professions gather at Shahbag wearing black badges to show their respect on the death of Ahmed Rajib Haider. By touching the coffin, protesters swear not to return home leaving their demands unfulfilled.
• 17 February - Various schools in Dhaka hoist the national flag and sing the national anthem to express solidarity with Shahbag protesters. The Shahbag activists announce a "grand rally" to be held on 21 February and reiterate their demand of death penalty for war criminals.
• 18 February - The Shahbag protests continues for the 14th day. Bangladesh Khilafat Andolan and Islami Oikya Jote demand the death penalty for top bloggers (Omi Rahman Pial, Ibrahim Khalil, Arif Jebtik and Asif Mohiuddin) of the ongoing Shahbag movement.
• 19 February - British foreign office minister Baroness Sayeeda Warsi praises the Shahbag Square protest, describing it as peaceful and productive. Shahbag protesters vow to spread their movement to the grassroots level by making 'Gonojagoron Mancha' (mass-upsurge stage) like Shahbag Square at every corner of the country.
• 20 February - Alleged "smear campaign" against Shahbag activists, branding them as anti-Islamic and anti-social elements by appealing to the religious sentiments of the people and at the same time trying to brand Haider as an atheist to justify his murder.
• 21 February - After the movement ran for two weeks, with huge participation from masses of people, in the grand rally at Shahbag held on 21 February 2013 in the afternoon, Imran H Sarker presents six demands before the people. An intelligence agency releases a message to the news media and law enforcement agencies which states that some "anti-state elements" will try to carry out destructive activities including suicide bomb attacks on places like Shahbag, Shaheed Minar, Dhaka and Baitul Mukarram. Law enforcement agencies arrest several Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami leaders and Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir political activists carrying explosives and planning to attack Shaheed Minar.
• 22 February - Shahbag Ganajagaran Mancha calls for nationwide protest just 1 day after calling off their demonstration at Shahbag. This happens after Jamaat political and radical Islamists went on a rampage in Dhaka city, clashing with police and attacking them with bombs and stones. Jamaat Islamists destroy the Sylhet Central Shaheed Minar setting on fire the national flag of Bangladesh and flowers.
• 6 March - The Shahbag protests has completed in one month. What started from the bloggers and online activists, has turned into a mass uprising, spread across the country to people from all walks of life, and among the expatriate Bangladeshis.

Aftermath

In March 2025, an organisation called the Anti-Shahbagi Alliance staged a protest in Shahbag by bathing a cow named "Shahbagi" and arranging mass-iftar to symbolize their opposition to the 2013 Shahbag protests.

On 12 March, 2025, a group of students from the Jahangirnagar University staged a protest against mob justice and judicial killings, chanting slogans such as,

"We haven't forgotten the martyrs of Shapla", and "L for Lucky, you are Hasina, you are Hasina."

Zahidul Islam, President of Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir, accused the Shahbagis of making Sheikh Hasina the "Godmother of Fascism" in Bangladesh. Hasnat Abdullah cautioned against attempting to revert to the political climate of 2013 in 2025, emphasizing the need for justice for past injustices.

On March 13, 2025, Mahfuj Alam, Adviser for Information and Broadcasting, urged an end to the indiscriminate labeling of individuals as "Shahbagi" out of political vendetta. He emphasized ideological struggle over exclusion, and called for unity in post-uprising Bangladesh.

Shadik Kayem, central publication secretary of Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir, accused the Shahbag protesters of legitimizing a fascist regime through the rise of mob culture, extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances. S. M. Farhad, president of the University of Dhaka unit of Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir, stated that all massacres from the Liberation War to Shahbag must be properly adjudicated, and that any process marred by scandals, abductions, mob violence or undue influence would constitute a "judicial killing".

Photos

Domestic Overseas