Police have arrested Nasir Uddin Munir, former vice chairman of Hathazari Upazila Parishad and joint secretary general of Hefazat-e-Islam's dissolved committee, in connection with a case over Hathazari violence. He was arrested from Hathazari Sadar on Monday. Chittagong District Superintendent of Police SM Rashidul Islam said Nasir Uddin Munir was arrested from Hathazari around 3.15 pm. There were several cases against Nasir Uddin Munir including the Hefazat violence in Hathazari last March. READ: Hefazat leader Azharul arrested in Dhaka He had been absconding since the incident. District Detective Police Inspector Keshab Kumar Barua said Nasir Uddin Munir was arrested in connection with the Hefazat violence. He would be sent to court on Tuesday and would ask for remand. It was learned that Nasir was accused as the instigator of the sabotage in Hathazari. He is also accused in former Hefazat Amir Ahmed Shafi murder case, investigated by PBI. On March 25, Hefazat-e-Islam leaders and activists clashed with police in Chattogram's Hathazari following the arrival of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. During that time, police station, upazila rest house, land office and officials' vehicles were vandalized. Four Hefazat workers were killed and more than a hundred were injured in the police firing. READ: Hefazat forms new committee, drops disputed leaders On March 30, six cases were filed with thousands of unidentified accused in connection to the sabotage.

A Chattogram Court on Saturday placed Shahjahan Chowdhury, a former MP and central leader of Jammat-e-Islam, on a 3-day remand in the case over Hefazat’s violence in Hathazari upazila. Judicial Magistrate Shahriar Iqbal passed the order when police sought a 7-day remand to interrogate him, said district court inspector Humayun Kabir Earlier,police arrested Shahjahan Chowdhury from his residence at Samdar Para in Satkania municipality area. Also read: Ex-Jamaat MP Shahjahan Chowdhury held Mohammad Anwar Hossain, officer-in-charge of Satkania Police Station, said a team of police arrested the ex-MP as he was wanted in many cases filed on sabotage charge. He was also the nayeb-e-amir of Chattogram city unit Jamaat-e-Islami and member of the Majlish-e-sura of central unit Jamaat-e-Islami. On April 30, 2019, detective police arrested Shahjahan Chowdhury from a madrasha and he served jail term.

Police have filed three cases accusing 148 people including Hefazat-e-Islam amir Allama Junaid Babungari, BNP leader Mir Helal and upazila Jamaat amir in connection to the sabotage and violence in Chattogram's Hathazari. In addition, 3000 unidentified persons have been accused in these cases. The cases were filed at Hathazari Police Station on Thursday (April 22) in connection with vandalism, arson and road blockade on March 26 and 27. Police informed this to the media on Monday. Also read: Brahmanbaria mayhem: Hefazat leader among 10 arrested Hathazari Police Station inspector Touhidul Karim said, "Three cases have been filed in connection with the March 26 and 27 violence." All the documents of the case have been sent to the court, legal action is being taken against the accused, he added. Chattogram District Special Branch (DSB) constable Solomon, Hathazari police inspector Amir Hossain and SI Harunur Rashid filed the cases. According to the statement of the cases, the strike called by Hefazat-e-Islam caused unrest in Hathazari Sadar and Ichapur Bazar by setting fire to cars and setting walls in the streets. On March 26-27, the accused attacked the police, vandalized police stations and land offices and set those on fire. Also read: Hefazat forms five-member convening committee   Junaid Babunagari has been accused in two cases and BNP executive committee member Mir Helal Uddin in another. According to local administration, the students of Hathazari Madrasa carried out infernal violence for two days, on March 26 and March 27. They set fire to the car of the Assistant Commissioner (Land) of Hathazari that worth Tk. 55 lac. All documents from the AC land office were burned. All the furniture was destroyed. Government rest houses and three motorcycles were set on fire. Also read: BNP-Jamaat behind recent Hefazat violence: Minister The physical infrastructural damage of Tk. 70 lac was caused during the attack in upazila land office.

Amir of Hefazat-e-Islam Junaid Babunagari has demanded exemplary punishment for the OC of Hathazari Police Station for shooting dead madrasa students on March 26. Hefazat-e-Islam's Amir made the demand at a protest rally at Hathazari's Zilla Parishad Market premises after Friday prayers. The protest rally was called as part of Hefazat's central program. Junaid Babungari addressed the rally as the chief guest. He said, "We want exemplary punishment for Hathazari Police Station OC Rafiqul Islam. He cannot stay as OC." "We pray for Bangabandhu and Bangladesh. We are not against the government. Our main enemies are atheists," he added. Also read: Hathazari Hefazat-police clash: 2,500 accused in 7 cases Police closed the Hathazari-Khagrachhari road from 1pm today during the protest rally by Hefazat. The law enforcers took up position with barbed wire barricade in front of Hathazari Kachari Road. Vehicles were stuck on both sides of the road. Many were seen walking to reach their destinations. After the rally ended at around 3.15 pm, the traffic became normal. Meanwhile, as part of the central program, the leaders and activists of Mahanagar Hefazat staged a protest at the Andarkillah Shahi Jame Mosque premises in the city after the Friday prayers. Huge number of police were also deployed in the area during this time. Also read: An uneasy calm at Hathazari after Friday’s mayhem Earlier, last Friday, four people were killed and atleast 15 others were injuref in clashes between Hefazot activists and police at Hathazari in Chattogram district. Hefazot activists attacked the Hathazari thana compound and land office, forcing the law enforcers to fire teargas shells and rubber bullets in self defence.

Seven separate cases were filed on Tuesday night over the clash between Hefazat-e-Islam activists and police at Hathazari in Chattogram. Five days after the incident, Hathazari police filed four cases, Patia police filed one and Hathazari land office filed two. The cases accused 2,500 people, none of them named, for attack on police station, vandalism of land office, arson, obstruction of police work and assaulting on-duty policemen. Also read: Four killed in clashes with cops in Chattogram Hathazari circle ASP Mosiudoula Reza said they would identify the suspects through investigation. Hathazari Upazila Nirbahi Officer Ruhul Amin said, “Students of the madrasa have caused irreparable damage to the people of Hathazari by setting fire to the land office.” Hefazat activists protested against the arrival of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Bangladesh on March 26. They also attacked Hathazari Police Station and vandalised it. Also read: Hefazat’s day-long hartal ends amid violence, clashes Five people, including several Hefazat activists, were killed when police opened fire. Later, the protesters set fire to the Hathazari Upazila Land Office and two cars.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Tuesday accused the government of creating an unbecoming situation in the country by instigating the communal forces. “The government is carrying out a false campaign that we’ve supported Hefazat and fundamentalists, and we’re instigating them from behind the scene to create a communal problem in the country,” he said. The BNP leader said, “I would like to clearly say it’s not BNP, but the government has instigated them (Hefazat and fundamentalists), and created such a situation in the country.” He made the remarks while speaking at a press conference at BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office. The BNP leader said Hefazat activists wanted to bring out a normal procession from Baitul Mukarram Mosque on Friday, but police attacked them at the north gate while the ‘ruling party cadres’ at the south gate of the mosque, leaving many people injured. He said the Hefazat activists were killed at Hathazari in Chattogram the same way as police attacked a peaceful procession of the organisation and opened fire on its activists. Fakhrul said the government has opened a stigmatised chapter on the Independence Day by shedding the blood of people in Dhaka, Chattogram and Brahmanbaria by unleashing law enforcers and Awami League cadres when the nation was celebrating the Golden Jubilee of Independence. He said their party tried to register its protest against the bloodletting and killing through holding protest rallies in the metropolitan cities Monday in district towns on Tuesday, but police and the ruling party men attacked BNP leaders and activists at different parts of the country. Fakhrul condemned the police attacks on BNP leaders and workers during their party’s two-day peaceful programme. He said their party tried to peacefully hold their programmes in protest against the killing of at least 15 people in the country over the last few days. “But our programme has no relation with Hefazat.” The BNP leader alleged that ruling party leaders and some media are trying to give their party’s programmes a different colour involving it with Hefazat.

After a daylong countrywide shutdown, Hefazat-e-Islam on Sunday announced doa mahfil for Monday and demonstration programmes on April 2 (Friday) seeking justice for its activists killed during Friday and Saturday’s clashes with police. “We’ll hold special prayers on Monday and stage nationwide protest on Friday,” Hefazat Secretary General Nurul Islam Zihadi announced at a press briefing in Dhaka. The group is calling for punishing policemen involved in shooting incidents in Chattogram and Brahmanbaria during the group’s anti-Modi protests that left at least nine people dead, including  several Hefazat activists.  It is also pressing for the release of its supporters arrested during the clashes. Also read: Hefazat’s day-long hartal ends amid violence, clashes “We’ll intensify our agitation if our demands are not met by next Friday,” Zihadi said. Hefazat called for the shutdown protesting against, what it called “police action” on their ‘anti-Modi’ processions in Dhaka, Chattogram and other districts. The group also held nationwide demonstrations on Saturday during which clashes with police left at least five people dead in Brahmanbaria. Also read: Hefajat hartal: 25 hurt, 4 detained in Habiganj, Sylhet Sunday’s hartal ended with reports of sporadic clashes across the country. On Friday, four people were killed and at least 15 others were injured in a clash between Hefazat supporters and police at Hathazari in Chattogram. Police opened fire after a group of protestors attacked the Hathazari thana compound, Hathazari land office and set fire to a vehicle. Also read: Hartal: 30 hurt during clash with cops in Narayanganj On the same day, at least 50 people, including several journalists, were injured in a clash between Muslim devotees and police in Baitul Mukarram National Mosque area. Clashes erupted when police barred people from bringing out a procession after Jum’a prayers protesting against the visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Bangladesh.

The nationwide dawn-to-dusk hartal, enforced by Hefajat-e-Islam, passed off on Sunday amid sporadic incidents of clashes, vandalism, arson attacks and roads blockades at different parts of the country. However, the hartal that began around 6am and ended at 6pm had little impact on the everyday life of people in the capital, except the low presence of public vehicles on the city streets. Rickshaws dominated the streets of the capital as usual. A large number of law enforcers remained deployed at important city points to fend off any trouble. Only a few long-distance buses left Dhaka for different districts while the train service was normal with poor presence of passengers. Hefazat activists brought out processions in the capital's different areas, including Jatrabari, Paltan, Baitul Mukarram, Lalbagh, Mohammadpur and Basila, in support of the shutdown. Hefazat activists blocked Jatrabari and Signboard in the morning setting fire to tyres.

Traffic movement on Chattogram-Khagrachhari highway remained suspended since Saturday morning as a tense situation has been prevailing at Hathazari in Chattogram since Friday’s clash between Hefazat activists and cops that left four people dead. Local administration and police held two meetings with the authorities of Hathazari Madrasah on Friday night but it ended inconceivably. Local MP Barrister Anisul Islam said local administration assured them of taking steps to investigate the incident and conduct postmortems on the bodies of the deceased. Meanwhile, the authorities concerned of Hathazari Madrasah submitted a six-point demand to the local administration. Also read: Four killed in clashes with cops in Chattogram The demands are the arrest of those involved in the killing immediately, refraining from making attacks on students and people, compensating the families of the deceased, bearing medical expenses of the injured students, bringing those physicians under book who were responsible for the negligence of duty at Chattogram Medical College and Hosptial and suspending officer-in-charge of Hathazari Police Station Rafiqul. Anisul said, “We have heard their demands, some have been fulfilled while steps will be taken regarding the other demands of the students.” Apart from police, Rab and BGB members are patrolling the area for maintaining the law and order. Earlier, four people were killed and at least 15 others injured in clashes between Hefazat-e-Islam activists and police at Hathazari on Friday. Police and witnesses said Hefazat activists brought out a procession after Jum'a prayers protesting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bangladesh visit. At one stage, they took position in front of Hathazari Model Police Station and started throwing brick chips at the law enforcers. Also read: Allama Shafi resigns from Hathazari Madrasa As police tried to disperse the protesters, they engaged in clashes. The agitators attacked the thana compound and Hathazari land office and set fire to a vehicle, forcing the law enforcers to fire teargas shells to bring the situation under control. As police failed to disperse the protestors despite an hour of their efforts, they fired several rounds of bullets, leaving at least 20 people injured. Of the injured, three Hefazat activists and a pedestrian were declared dead after they had been taken to Chattogram Medical College Hospital (CMCH). The dead were indentified as Hathazari Madrasah students Mirazul Islam, Rabiul Islam, Jamil and local resident Abdullah. Five other injured people were admitted to the hospital in critical condition. Alauddin Talukder, officer-in-charge of Chattogram Medical College Hospital Police Outpost, said nine people with bullet wounds were taken to the CMCH from Hathazari as of 4:30pm yesterday. “Four of them died while the rest are undergoing treatment.” Meanwhile, Hefazat-e-Islam has called a dawn-to-dusk countrywide hartal for Sunday protesting police action on their anti-Modi rally in Dhaka, Chattogram and other districts. Also read:  Govt shuts Hathazari Madrasa The Qawmi madrasa-based organisation will also organise nationwide demonstrations on Saturday, Abdur Rob Eusufi, nayeb-e-ameer of Hefazat, announced the programmes at a press briefing in Purana Paltan on Friday night. Hefazat chief Junaid Babungari ran a video message in this regard.

Four people were killed and at least 15 others injured in clashes between Hefazat-e-Islam activists and police at Hathazari in Chattogram district on Friday. Police and witnesses said Hefazat activists brought out a procession after Jum'a prayers protesting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bangladesh visit. At one stage, they took position in front of Hathazari Model Police Station and started throwing brick chips at the law enforcers. As police tried to disperse the protesters, they engaged in clashes. The agitators attacked the thana compound and Hathazari land office and set fire to a vehicle, forcing the law enforcers to fire teargas shells to bring the situation under control. Also read: Allama Shafi resigns from Hathazari Madrasa As police failed to disperse the protestors despite an hour of their efforts, they fired several rounds of bullets, leaving at least 20 people injured. Of the injured, three Hefazat activists and a pedestrian were declared dead after they had been taken to Chattogram Medical College Hospital (CMCH). The dead were in deified as Hathazari Madrasa students Mirazul Islam, Rabiul Islam, Jamil and local resident Abdullah. Five other injured people were admitted to the hospital in critical condition. Alauddin Talukder, officer-in-charge of Chattogram Medical College Hospital Police Outpost, said nine people with bullet wounds were taken to the CMCH from Hathazari as of 4:30pm. “Four of them died while the rest are undergoing treatment.” Additional Superintendent of Police (Hathazari circle) Shahadat Hossain said the police station came under attack suddenly. “We’ve brought the situation under control.” Officer-in-charge (OC) of Hathazari Police Station Rafiqul Islam said the Hefazat followers tried to stage demonstrations protesting the Indian Prime visit to Bangladesh. Also read: Govt shuts Hathazari Madrasa “As we tried to stop them, they entered the police station and unleashed serious vandalism there,” he said. The OC also said the protesters also hurled brick chips and stones towards police without any provocation. Ruhul Amin, upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) of Hathazari upazila administration, said the Hefazat activists attacked the local land office following the attack on the police station. He said the rowdy protestors vandalised the land office, destroyed its files and documents in fire. “They also set ablaze a vehicle of the land office and then attacked bungalows and carried out massive destruction there.”