Shahbagi

Shahabagi (Bengali: শাহবাগী) is a pejorative term used to refer left wing in Bangladesh.^[1] The word originated from 2013 Shahbag protests where leftists and Communists protested for hanging of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami politicians.^[2] The is term generally synonymous to individuals with anti-Islam attitude in Bangladesh.^[3]

Origin

See also: 2013 Shahbag protests

The term Shahbagi was based on 2013 protest at Shahbagh which began at the call of the Bloggers and Online Activists Network, demanding the execution of Jamaat leader Abdul Quader Mollah. Later it was known as the Ganajagaran Mancha led by various secularist and left wing organizations.^[4] The protests was organised by various Atheist, Secularist, and Anti-Islam bloggers and activists.^[5][6][7]

Usage

Following the July Revolution, an anti-Shahbagi platform staged a symbolic protest in which a cow was named "Shahbagi" and bathed under a banner reading “গোসল কর শাহবাগী” (lit. 'Take a bath, Shahbagi').^[8][9]

In December 2024, Mamunul Haque, secretary general of Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh referred to the group as atheists "created by the Awami League" to erase "Islamic values".^[10] Same year, On 16 December, Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh, Shafiqur Rahman urged "Shahbagis" should also be brought under justice stating “those who were killed, murdered on the demand of the "Shahbagis"—they too will be brought back to justice.”^[11][12]

In January 2025, at an exhibition in Dhaka, Islami Chhatra Shibir used the slogan “Take bath Shahbagi”. Later, at a conference at Jahangirnagar University, Shibir Central President Jahidul Islam claimed the slogan symbolized cleansing the nation's politics from fascist elements.^[13] Later in a Facebook status he alleged Shahbagis as 'agents of fascism' and responsible for establishing fascism and Islamophobia in Bangladesh through ideological hegemony.^[14]

In March 2025, Shahbagis were widely criticised after several policemen were beaten in a left wing protest.^[15][16][17] Abu Shadik Kayem, coordinator of the Students Against Discrimination (SAD), and Hasnat Abdullah, the Chief Organizer of Southern region for the National Citizen Party, expressed criticism of them while referring to them “Shahbagi”.^[18][19] Following the incident, students at Comilla University and other universities held protests featuring anti-fascist and anti-Shahbagi slogans.^[20] Demonstrators also called for the arrest of activist Lucky Aktar, labeling her Shahbagi for her role during the 2013 protest.^[21][22][23]

In April 2025, Umama Fatema, supported the controversial report of Women's Affairs Reform Commission,^[24][25][26] Netizens opposing the commission labeled her "Shahbagi" which she later denied in a Facebook post.^[27]

On May 2025, in an interview, Inquilab Mancha spokesperson Sharif Osman Hadi alleged that Shahbagis had played a role in disrupting law and order in Bangladesh.^[28]

See also

• 2013 Shahbag Protests
• Liberalism in Bangladesh