The government is going to take a strict stance to prevent all kind of anarchy and secure people’s lives and properties, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said Sunday. He came up with the warning while talking to reporters at the secretariat. The warning came after a daylong Hefazat-e-Islam hartal protesting against, what it called “police action” on its ‘anti-Modi’ processions in Dhaka, Chattogram and other districts. Minister Kamal said some rowdy people and groups, spurred on by religious fanaticism, are destroying public properties in Chattogram, Brahmanbaria and other parts of the country. “I’m requesting them to stop,” he said, “otherwise, the government will take stern action.” Also read: Hefazat’s day-long hartal ends amid violence, clashes He said that the government has noticed some vested groups using orphans and minors to advance their own agenda. “In some places, small children and orphans were victimised. This is anarchism,” Kamal said. “We’ve observed them patiently, now we’ll resist them and bring them to book. Their tactics (hartal supporters) show that militants who triggered instability in the past, have joined hands to create sabotage,” he said, adding that no one will be spared. Responding to a question, the minister said that most of the students who study in madrasas come from poor background. “They’re being used and misled using the name of religion.” Hefazat announces fresh protest programme Hardline Islamist group Hefazat also held nationwide demonstrations on Saturday during which clashes with police left at least five people dead in Brahmanbaria. Also read: Hefazat announces ‘doa mahfil, demonstration’ for Monday 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. 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.

The High Court on Sunday expressed concern over the torture of a madrasa student and ordered all educational institutions to follow the constitution and laws of the country.

Members of Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) visited the Hathazari Madrasa on Tuesday morning as part of their probe into the alleged killing of Hefazat-e-Islam founder Shah Ahmad Shafi.

Junaid Babunagari on Sunday took the helm of Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh.

The Shura Committee (The policymaking body) on Saturday took charge of  Al-Jamiatul Ahlia Darul Ulum Mainul Islam Hathazari following the resignation and death of its director general Allama Shah Ahmed Shafi.

Allama Shah Ahmed Shafi, the rector of Hathazari Madrasa and chief of Hefazat e Islam, breathed his last in a hospital in the capital on Friday evening, within 24 hours of resigning from his post at Hathazari in the face of student protests.

Allama Shah Ahmed Shafi, the director-general of Hathazari Madrasa, has stepped down.

The Ministry of Education on Thursday ordered the closure of Al Jameyatul Ahlia Darul Ulum Moinul Islam Madrasa, also known as Hathazari Madrasa, in Chattogram's Hathazari upazila until further notice.