A protest has erupted in Dhaka after a Bangla daily ran a report describing executed war criminal and Jamaat-e-Islami leader Abdul Quader Molla a ‘martyr’.
The Muktijoddha Manch, a platform of a group of people holding the spirit of the 1971 Liberation War, laid a siege to the office of the Daily Sangram in the capital’s Mogbazar on Friday (Dec 13) to protest the report.
The Daily Sangram, known as the mouthpiece of Islamist party Jamaat, ran a story on its Thursday (Dec 12) issue, in which it termed Quader Molla a ‘martyr’.
On Dec 12, 2013, Molla, who was known as the 'Butcher of Mirpur' was executed for crimes against humanity, including the massacre of unarmed civilians and the killing of intellectuals, during the War of Independence in 1971.
At around 5pm on Friday, leaders, and activities of Muktijoddha Manch gathered in front of the Sangram’s Magbazar office and began the demonstration.
Muktijoddha Manch’s Dhaka University chapter President Mahmud told Bangla Tribune that they have gathered to protest the Daily Sangram report.
“The daily ran a report in its front page calling notorious war criminal Kosai (butcher) Quader a ‘martyr’. The Muktijoddha Manch strongly protests and condemns it,” said Aminul Islam Bulbul, president of the platform.
Journalists of the daily told Bangla Tribune that at one point, the protesters stormed into its office and vandalized the office equipment. They also burnt several copies of Daily Sangram. 
The protesters also brought the editor of the daily, Abul Asad in front of the television cameras where he apologized to the nation for calling Qader Mullah a ‘martyr’. They then put the office doors on lock.
Muktijoddha Manch’s DU chapter chief said they found documents on the operation of Jamaat and its student front Islami Chattra Shibir inside the Sangram office.
After that, the editor was handed over to the police, Mahmud added.
Muktijoddha Manch President Bulbul said they demanded editor Asad be arrested immediately and punished exemplary for such acts.
Police have arrived in the scene, said Dhaka Metropolitan Police (Tejgaon zone) Additional Deputy Commissioner Hafiz Al Faruk adding they were looking into the incident.