Professor Anu Muhammad, a member of the Democratic Rights Committee, warned of emerging fascist tendencies in Bangladesh during a `Solidarity Rally` held by the Democratic Students` Alliance at Dhaka University’s Raju Memorial Monument on Saturday.

The rally protested the acquittal of convicted war criminal ATM Azharul Islam and attacks by Jamaat-Shibir activists on Democratic Students` Alliance processions at Rajshahi University and Chattogram.

“We are witnessing signs of a rising fascist force in society. This new fascism is becoming evident, and we must resist it,” Anu Muhammad said.

He accused the government of indifference toward demands for a new political framework, alleging that “government forces are, in some cases, complicit in attacks and torture” against those advocating for their rights.

He further claimed that attackers are “shielded by supporters within the government.”

Criticising the acquittal of ATM Azharul Islam, Anu Muhammad said, “ATM Azharul Islam led a war criminal organisation in 1971. The charges against him were backed by documented evidence. Even if the court overturns the verdict due to procedural errors, the truth of his war crimes cannot be erased.”

He argued that declaring a known war criminal innocent distorts history and betrays the martyrs, oppressed women, and freedom fighters of 1971.

Azharul Islam was convicted in 2014 by the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) for six counts of genocide, murder, abduction, and torture, receiving a death sentence and other prison terms.

On May 27, 2025, a seven-justice bench led by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed unanimously overturned the ICT’s verdict, acquitting him of all charges.

This marks the first time an individual sentenced to death in a war crimes case has been acquitted by the Appellate Division through a review and appeal process.