Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)- The nation stood in silence for three minutes from 4:00 pm on Tuesday to express solidarity with the ongoing movement across the country demanding death penalties to all the war criminals and a ban on the politics of Jamaat-e- Islami.
People from all levels of life including ministers, lawmakers, ruling Awami League-led 14-party leaders, members of prosecution and investigation teams of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT), journalists, members of different political and socio-cultural organizations stood in solemn silence for three minutes with the clock striking 4:00 in the afternoon.
Millions of people across the country were seen to have observed the three-minute silence to express solidarity with the movement. Vehicles moving on the road halted also to express their solidarity.
Tens of thousands people, who thronged the Shahbagh Square or Prajanma Chattar for the eighth consecutive day on the day, stood in silence for three minutes to press home the demand for death penalty to all war criminals, including Jamaat leader Abdul Quader Mollah.
The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) observed three- minutes silence to express solidarity with the demand of the youths of Prajanma Chattar for capital punishment to all war criminals.
Officials and employees of Prime Minister's Office (PMO) joined millions at 4pm to observe the silence. Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, PMO Secretary, Director Generals, officials and employees joined the program, according to reports.
They stood in silence in front of PMO for three minutes to express their solidarity with the demand.
On Monday, Shahbagh Square protesters urged the people across the country to express solidarity with the movement by observing a three- minute stand in silence on Tuesday.
Bloggers and Online Activists started the protest at Shahbagh Square on February 5 demanding death penalty to Jamaat Assistant Secretary General Quader Mollah after the International Crimes Tribunal-2 sentenced him (Mollah) to life for war crimes in 1971.
Expressing solidarity with the program, ministers, state ministers, secretaries, officers and employees of different ministries observed the three-minute silence in front of the Secretariat while 14-party leaders at Shaheed Minar.
Members of Parliament (MPs) stood in silence for three minutes from 4:00 pm at the South Plaza of Sangsad Bhaban to press home demand for death penalty to war criminals.
The most popular cricket tournament Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) was stopped for three minutes as the cricketers and concerned officers and employees observed the silence.
Deputy Speaker Shawkat Ali Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu, Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid, Foreign Minister Dr. Dipu Moni, Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) President Mujahidul Islam Selim, noted economist Prof Abul Barakat, noted short film producer Tanvir Mokammel, actors Zahid Hasan, Meer Sabbir, Chanchal Chowdhury, and Brindaban Das came to the Shahbagh Square to express solidarity with the movement.
BBN/SSR/AD-12Feb13-10:30 pm (BST)