2013 Shahbag protests

The Shahbag protests were a series of demonstrations that erupted in Bangladesh in February 2013, ignited by the verdict of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) that sentenced Abdul Quader Mollah, a former leader of the Jamaat-e-Islami party, to life imprisonment for war crimes committed during the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971. The protests, which drew significant public attention and participation, called for the death penalty for Mollah and other convicted war criminals. The movement, primarily led by the youth, took place in Shahbag square in Dhaka, and gained widespread media coverage both nationally and internationally. Although primarily occurring in Bangladesh, the protests resonated with the Indian diaspora and various social and political groups in India, highlighting issues of justice, accountability, and historical memory within the context of South Asia.