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Protests rejecting the Supreme Court’s May 27 verdict acquitting Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami leader ATM Azharul Islam of 1971 war crimes charges and against the recent attacks on left student leaders and activists in Rajshahi and Chattogram continued in Dhaka and elsewhere in the country for the fifth day on Saturday.

Amid the protests, Jamaat on Friday expelled its activist Akash Chowdhury for his involvement in an attack that left at least 15 left student activists injured in Chattogram on May 28.

Jamaat, however, declined to take any responsibility for its activist’s involvement in the attack.

At least 20 left student leaders and activists were injured when the demonstrations of the Democratic Students’ Alliance, a combine of seven left student organisations, against Azharul’s acquittal came under attack on the Rajshahi University campus on May 27 and in front of Chattogram Press Club on May 28.

The Democratic Students’ Alliance on Saturday held a ‘Citizens’ Solidarity Rally’ at the Anti-Terrorism Raju Memorial Sculpture on the Dhaka University campus protesting against Azhar’s acquittal and the attacks on left student activists.

Speakers, including academics, journalists, activists and student leaders strongly condemned the acquittal and the attacks.

They demanded immediate arrest of and exemplary punishment for the attackers.

Former Jahangirnagar University economics professor Anu Muhammad said, ‘If an identified person (Azharul) is declared innocent, the whole history changes. History is being horribly distorted.’

‘And, 71’s martyrs, victim women and crores of people who were with the struggle (War of Independence) are being betrayed. Their existence is denied,’ he added.

He also said that the interim government could take initiatives to reform the flawed justice system. ‘It cannot avoid responsibility for the acquittal of a convicted war criminal.’

A retired professor of Sir Salimullah Medical College, Harun-ur-Rashid, criticised the government and law enforcement agencies as the attackers on a female left leader were not arrested yet.

Gonotantrik Odhikar Committee member and journalist Manzur Al Matin demanded the immediate arrest of the attackers.

Earlier on Friday, Jamaat’s Chattogram metropolitan city unit assistant secretary Muhammad Ullah issued a press release expelling Akash.

It said that Akash was expelled for violating the party’s discipline.

‘Jamaat-e-Islami will not take any responsibility for the incident (attack on left students’ protest in front of Chattogram Press Club). The responsibility for the undesirable incident that day lies solely upon the responsible persons present there,’ said Muhammad Ullah, claiming that Jamaat had no connection with the incident as it was not aware of the programmes and did not direct any activists to go there.

The expulsion came days after a video showing a youth kicking a left female leader during the attack went viral on social media on May 28.

Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal-Jasod on Saturday issued a statement terming war criminal Azharul’s release as a shameful event in the history of the judiciary.

It also stated that the acquittal also proved that Jamaat was taking revenge for their defeat in 1971.

The Dinajpur unit of the Left Democratic Alliance and Anti-Fascism Left Alliance jointly organised a rally in Dinajpur town protesting against the acquittal and the attacks.