Islami Chhatra Shibir President Zahidul Islam has called on the government to officially declare May 5 as ‘Shapla Massacre Day,’ in remembrance of what he describes as a state-sponsored massacre of peaceful protesters in 2013. He stated that thousands gathered at Shapla Chattar to peacefully voice their 13-point demands against blasphemy, but were brutally attacked. He also accused the Awami League government of multiple massacres since 2008—including the BDR mutiny, the crackdown following Allama Sayedee’s verdict, and the most recent violence on July 24. “Justice for these state-orchestrated killings is long overdue. Without it, fascism cannot be defeated,” he added.