Shahbagh erupts

This is the square in Dhaka where protests had erupted first on Feb 5 when Molla had been awarded a life sentence by the International Crimes Tribunal.

As tens of thousands stayed put at Shahbagh for weeks to push for the war criminal's death penalty, the square began to symbolise a rejuvenated quest for liberal, secular Bengali nationalism that had fuelled the country's liberation war in 1971 against Pakistan's military might.

Now with the Jamaat Assistant Secretary General finally hanged a few days before the country celebrates its 42nd year of existence, Shahbagh is celebrating.

Immediately after Molla was hanged, a huge procession was taken out from Shahbagh.

Slogans like "Victory for Shahbagh, victory for Liberation War," rent the air.

"This is a victory for our movement. Now the other war criminals should also be executed without much delay," said Imran H Sarker, spokesperson of the Ganajagaran Mancha.

"The execution of Molla proves Bangladesh is capable of bringing to justice those who perpetrated the crimes against humanity in 1971," he said.

He said a huge rally will be held at Shahbagh on Friday afternoon.