Hefazat-e-Islam
People involved with Hefazat violence to be punished: Home Minister
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal on Sunday said that despite talks with the leaders of Hefazat-e-Islam, people who were involved in violence will be brought to book.
He came up with the remarks at a function organised by Dhaka North City Awami League at Rajdhani School premises.
The Home Minister said that people are being arrested after analysing video footages of Hefazat's violence that spread across districts.
Also read: BNP-Jamaat behind recent Hefazat violence: Minister
Despite discussions with the group, those who participated in the violence will be punished, he added.
The minister said that those who are involved in arson, vandaliism, and caused lives to be lost must be punished.
Also read: BNP involved in Hefazat violence: Obaidul Quader
He said the law enforcement is not making any mass arrests or harassing anyone said.
The Home Minister said Hefazat is a non-political group and there is no provision of doing politics on its policies. Although many disagree with it, he said.
Another top Hefazat leader held in city
Detective Branch (DB) members of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) arrested another top leader of Hefazat Islam Bangladesh from the city's West Agargaon area on Saturday afternoon.
The arrestee is Dr Ahmad Abdul Kader, the Nayebe Ameer of Hefazat Islam Bangladesh.
Also Read: Hefazat leader Qurban Ali Kasemi arrested in Dhaka
Tipped off, a team of the DB (Tejgaon Division) police conducted a drive at West Agargaon around 7 pm and arrested Dr Abdul Kader, said DMP Additional DC (media) Iftekharul Islam.
Dr Abdul Kader, who was the former president of Islami Chhatra Shibir, was arrested in connection with several cases filed with different police stations including Paltan police station recently.
Also Read: 2 more top Hefazat leaders held
Many Hefazat leaders have been arrested in the country recently following the vandalism and arson attack carried out by its activists across the country against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Bangladesh last month.
BNP-Jamaat behind recent Hefazat violence: Minister
Information Minister Hasan Mahmud on Saturday said the arrested Hefazat leaders recognised the involvement of BNP-Jamaat alliance in the violence carried out in the country last month.
"You’ve seen that the Economic Times of India and some local newspapers have reported on how BNP-Jamaat alliance actively participated in the violence and funded the miscreants…Pakistani intelligence also helped them,” he said.
Also read: Govt has link with Hefazat, alleges BNP
Hasan Mahmud came up with the remarks while talking to reporters after inaugurating a food distribution programme in his hometown Rangunia via online.
He said the recent violence were not isolated events, as those were part of a bigger plan by the BNP-Jamaat alliance to grab power by ousting the government.
Also read: BNP involved in Hefazat violence: Obaidul Quader
"No one involved with the incident will be spared," he warned.
Hefazat leader Abul Hussain remanded
A Faridpur court on Friday sent vice-president of Faridpur district Hefazat-e-Islam Md. Abul Hussain on a 7-day remand.
The court passed the order when Bhanga Police Station sub-inspector Bikash Mandal placed Abul Hussain before the Faridpur Chief Judicial Magistrate's Court seeking a 10-day remand.
Abul Hussain was arrested in the early hours of Friday.
He was accused in a case filed in connection with the attack on Bhanga police station.
On March 27, activists and supporters of Hefazat-e-Islam attacked the Bhanga police station and vandalized the main gate.
Ten people including two policemen were injured in the attack.
Injured sub-Inspector of Bhanga Police Station Shahidullah filed a case accusing 300 unidentified people.
So far 19 people including Abul Hussain have been arrested.
B’baria mayhem: 7 more Hefazat men held
Seven more people have been arrested in the past 24 hours in connection with last month's mayhem by Hefazat-e-Islam supporters in Brahmanbaria, police said Saturday.
The arrests were made from different parts of the district after identifying the accused from video footage and images taken during the violence, the special branch of the district police said.
So far, 55 cases have been filed and 353 people arrested over the rampage, the police said.
Also read: 10 more Hefazat men held over Brahmanbaria violence
On March 27, at least five people were killed and around 50 others, including 25 cops, injured in clashes between members of law enforcement agencies and locals during Hefazat’s demonstrations at Nandanpur in Sadar upazila.They had staged the protests against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Bangladesh.
The next day, during Hefazat’s countrywide dawn-to-dusk hartal protesting police action on their anti-Modi processions in Dhaka, Chattogram and other districts, activists set fire to three buildings, including the land office in Brahmanbaria Sadar upazila.
They had also attacked a Chattogram-bound train at Talshohor Rail Station in Brahmanbaria town.
Besides, the Hefazat supporters also vandalised several private and government establishments, including Zila Parishad building, municipality building, Police Lines, Industrial School, land office, Alauddin Music Academy, and Foirtala Bus Stand in Sadar upazila.
The supporters had also attacked Brahmanbaria Press Club and confined some journalists to the premises.
Hefazat leader detained in Faridpur
A Hefazat leader in Faridpur was arrested in connection with the attack at Faridpur's Bhanga police station.
On Friday morning Bhanga police arrested maulana Mohammad Abul Hossain, vice-president of Hefazat-e-Islam Faridpur district branch from his home at west Alipore, with the help of Faridpur police.
Abul Hossain was a Mohaddess of Charkamalapur Madrasa in Faridpur.
Also Read: 2 more top Hefazat leaders held
On March 27, a procession from a nearby madrasa attacked the Bhanga police station, causing extensive damage.
Several people, including the police on duty were injured in the attack.
Bhanga Police Station sub-inspector Mohammad Shahidullah filed a case accusing 300 unidentified persons.
Also Read: Hefazat leader Qurban Ali Kasemi arrested in Dhaka
The investigating officer of the case, Sub-Inspector of Bhanga Police Station Bikash Mandal said Abul Hossain was arrested from Faridpur city as an accused in the case.
A 7-day remand will be asked for Abul Hossain at the court, he added.
So far 19 people have been arrested in the case.
Also read: Hefazat leader Mamunul Haq finally arrested
18 arrestees have been sent to jail after they were taken into remand for various periods.
10 more Hefazat men held over Brahmanbaria violence
Ten more people have been arrested in the past 24 hours in connection with last month's mayhem by Hefazat-e-Islam supporters in Brahmanbaria, police said Friday.
The arrests were made from different parts of the district after identifying the accused from video footage and images taken during the violence, the special branch of the district police said.
So far, 55 cases have been filed and 414 people arrested over the rampage, the police said.
Also read: 7 more Hefazat men held over B’baria mayhem
On March 27, at least five people were killed and around 50 others, including 25 cops, injured in clashes between members of law enforcement agencies and locals during Hefazat’s demonstrations at Nandanpur in Sadar upazila.They had staged the protests against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Bangladesh.
The next day, during Hefazat’s countrywide dawn-to-dusk hartal protesting police action on their anti-Modi processions in Dhaka, Chattogram and other districts, activists set fire to three buildings, including the land office in Brahmanbaria Sadar upazila.
They had also attacked a Chattogram-bound train at Talshohor Rail Station in Brahmanbaria town.
Also read: Another top Hefazat leader arrested
Besides, the Hefazat supporters also vandalised several private and government establishments, including Zila Parishad building, municipality building, Police Lines, Industrial School, land office, Alauddin Music Academy, and Foirtala Bus Stand in Sadar upazila.
The supporters had also attacked Brahmanbaria Press Club and confined some journalists to the premises.
Also read: 11 more Hefazat men held over B’baria violence
Govt has link with Hefazat, alleges BNP
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Thursday alleged that it is the government, not BNP, that has a link with Hefazat-e-Islam.
“They (govt) have established a reign of terror in the country. Several thousand people have been arrested in the last few days since March 26. Our party workers in Chattogram, Brahmanbaria and Dhaka can’t stay at home at night,” he said.
Speaking at a virtual discussion, the BNP leader said, “Our leaders and workers were arrested by conducting block raids in Keraniganj. If we protest against it, they say we’ve a link with Hefazat. But the fact is that it’s you who has the link with Hefazat. You’ve made an agreement with them (Hefazat) by sitting at a meeting at the house of the Prime Minister.”
Also read: BNP involved in Hefazat violence: Obaidul Quader
Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) arranged the virtual discussion on the coronavirus situation.
Fakhrul also said the Prime Minister has clearly said her party has given Hefazat huge money and did many things for the Quami madrasas.
“So, you (AL) have taken the responsibility of Hefazat and you’ve to fulfil the responsibility. You’re deceiving people in carrying out that responsibility. You’ve lost all the confidence of people, and you’ve now started torturing them. You’ve turned this country into a police state,” he observed.
The BNP leader alleged that the government is not giving people and political parties any scope to express their own views.
Also read: BNP demands release of arrested religious leaders
Though the government talks about democracy, he said, it is unwilling to allow anyone to protest or speak against it. “You also don’t want anyone to speak against injustice and identify your mistakes. So, you can no longer be a democratic government.”
Fakhrul alleged the government has failed to tackle the coronavirus situation and ensure vaccine doses for the country’s people. “We don't know whether those who received the first dose of vaccine would get the second dose as there’s a speculation that India is not going to export the vaccine.”
He also criticised the government for depending on a single country for the vaccine instead of collecting it from different sources and countries.
Another Hefazat leader arrested in city
Police on Thursday arrested another leader of Hefazat-e-Islam from the city’s Bangshal area on Thursday evening.
The arrestee is Mawlana Ihteshamul Haque Sathi, assistant office secretary of Hefazat-e-Islam Dhaka city unit.
Iftekhairul Islam, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Media & PR Division) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) said Ihteshamul Haque was arrested around 5:30 pm.
Also Read: 2 more top Hefazat leaders held
Earlier in the morning members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested Khaled Syfullah Ayubi, assistant secretary general of Hefazat-e-Islam's central unit, from Singair upazila of Manikganj district.
On Wednesday, three top Hefazat-e-Islam leaders were arrested from Dhaka's Mohammadpur and Kafrul areas.
They were Mawlana Khurshid Alam Kasemi, nayeb-e-ameer of Khilafat Majlish and vice-president of Hefazat-e-Islam, Maulana Ataullah Amin, assistant general secretary of Hefazat's Dhaka city unit and joint secretary general of Bangladesh Khilafat Majlish, and Mufti Sharafat Hossain, joint general secretary of Khilafat Majlish.
Also Read: Hefazat leader Qurban Ali Kasemi arrested in Dhaka
On Tuesday, Mawlana Qurban Ali Kasemi, vice-president of Hefazat-e-Islam and joint secretary general of Khilafat Majlish, was also arrested from Dhaka's Basabo.
On April 18, Hefazat's joint secretary general Mamunul Haq was arrested from a Mohammadpur madrasa.
Many top Hefazat leaders have been arrested recently following vandalism and arson carried out by the organisation's supporters across the country against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bangladesh visit last month.
Also read: Hefazat leader Mamunul Haq finally arrested
Other arrested leaders include Hefazat's Dhaka city unit president Junaid Al-Habib, vice-president Maulana Jubair Ahmed; assistant general secretary Jalaluddin Ahmed, assistant publicity secretary Sharifullah and organising secretary Azizul Haque Islamabadi.
2 more top Hefazat leaders held
Two more top Hefazat-e-Islam leaders were arrested from Dhaka's Mohammadpur on Wednesday.
Mawlana Khurshid Alam Kasemi, nayeb-e-ameer of Khilafat Majlish and vice-president of Hefazat-e-Islam, was arrested in the evening.
Maulana Ataullah Amin, assistant general secretary of Hefazat's Dhaka city unit and joint secretary general of Bangladesh Khilafat Majlish, was held in the early hours of the day.
Also read: Another top Hefazat leader held in city
Also, Mufti Sharafat Hossain, joint general secretary of Khilafat Majlish, was arrested from Kafrul on the same day at 5pm.
Iftekharul Islam, additional deputy commissioner (media) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police confirmed the arrests.
Also read: Hefazat leader Qurban Ali Kasemi arrested in Dhaka
On Tuesday, Mawlana Qurban Ali Kasemi, vice-president of Hefazat-e-Islam and joint secretary general of Khilafat Majlish, was also arrested from Dhaka's Basabo.
On April 18, Hefazat's Joint Secretary General Mamunul Haq was arrested from a Mohammadpur madrasa.
Also read: Hefazat leader Mamunul Haq finally arrested
Many top Hefazat leaders have been arrested recently following vandalism and arson carried out by the organisation's supporters across the country against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bangladesh visit last month.
Other arrested leaders include Hefazat's Dhaka city unit President Junaid Al-Habib, Vice-President Maulana Jubair Ahmed; Assistant General Secretary Jalaluddin Ahmed, Assistant Publicity Secretary Sharifullah and Organising Secretary Azizul Haque Islamabadi.