A Chattogram court has sent Hefazat-e-Islam central committee’s former joint secretary general Maulana Muhammad Chhalim Ullah to jail in a case of embezzling Tk 5 crore from hundreds of customers of Ehsan Society, a financial institution. Judge Kamrun Nahar Rumi of the Chattogram Chief Judicial Magistrate's Court on Sunday afternoon denied bail and ordered to send him to jail. Sheikh Al Jabed, counsel for the plaintiff in the case, said Chhalim Ullah had applied for bail but the court rejected it and sent him to jail. READ: Charges against Hefazat’s Mamunul in explosive case on Oct 10 According to court sources, Chhalim Ullah, the chief of the Ehsan Society of Nazirhat Municipality in Chattagram’s Fatikchhari, collected almost Tk 5 crore from over 1.5 thousand people in promising huge profits, claiming Ehsan Society as an Islamic Sharia-based interest-free institution. In September 2018, customer Asaduzzaman filed a case against 11 people including Chhalim Ullah. This year on September 30, the court issued arrest warrants against the accused in this case Chhalim Ullah and other accused became fugitives after the warrants were issued. READ: Maulana Muhibullah is Hefazat's new Ameer Plaintiff Asaduzzaman alleged that Chhalim Ullah despite being a madrasa teacher, owns numerous luxury residential buildings and real estate in Chattogram, Cox's Bazar and Fatikchhari. Besides, he has huge sums of money in various banks, he added.

A Khulna court Sunday set October 10 to frame charges against Mamunul Haque, former joint secretary general of Hefajat-e-Islam in a case filed under the Explosive Substances Act. Additional metropolitan session court judge SM Ashikur Rahman announced the date after Mamunul was brought before the court from Khulna district jail, said public prosecutor advocate KM Iqbal Hossain. According to the charge-sheet of the case, on February 22, 2013 a demonstration of around 3,000 members of 12 parties including Jamaat-e-Islam, BNP and Hefazat took place in Khulna demanding abolition of International Crimes Tribunal, release of arrested war criminals and chanting anti-government slogans. Also read: Mamunul sent to jail after remand Headed towards the Gonojagoron Moncho in the city the procession at one point faced police obstruction and allegedly started attacking police with cocktail bombs and gun fires. In self-defense police also fired 20 rounds of bullets in the air. In the attack some members of police got injured by the blast and some 26 people were arrested from the spot. Later in the day, Sub-Inspector of Sonadanga police station, Alamgir Kabir filed a case against 26 people including Maulana Mamunul Haque. According to the charge-sheet of the case, Mamunul Haque directed  his followers to vandalize Gonojagoron Moncho and attack police during an waz mahfil held at Moylapota mosque roundabout a day before the attack. The charge sheet was submitted on April 21, 2015 by investigation officer of the case SI Md Moktar Hossain against 107 people. On September 3, Mamunul  was transferred to Khulna district jail from Kashimpur high security central jail in Gazipur. A Narayanganj court on June 5, sent Mamunul to Kashimpur Central Jail on completion of his 18-day remand in six separate cases. On April 18, a joint team of Tejgaon Division police and DMP's Detective Branch arrested Mamunul from Jamia Rahmania Arabia Madrasah in Mohammadpur. Also read: ACC investigating Hefazat leaders Babunagri, Mamunul for graft, fund embezzlement He was remanded for 18 days till June 5, in six different cases over rape, vandalism and Hefazat mayhem. Among them, three were filed by the district police, two by the CID, and one by the PBI. The former Hefazat leader currently has 27 cases against his name.

Following the death of the 68-year-old incumbent Ameer Allama Junaid Babunagri, Hefazat-e-Islam has appointed his uncle and former chief advisor Maulana Muhibullah Babunagri as the acting Ameer. The decision to delegate the responsibility came at a meeting of the Shura (consultation) committee of the organisation Thursday, said Maulana Mir Edris, organisational secretary of Hefazat. Secretary General of Hefazat, Allama Nurul Islam made the announcement just before the Namaz-e-Janaza of Junaid Babunagri at 11.20 pm Thursday at Hathazari Madrasa field in Chattogram, he said. Also read: Hefazat Ameer Junaid Babunagri passes away Junaid Babunagri was buried at Hathazari Madrasa graveyard besides the grave of the organisation's first Ameer Allama Shafi. Junaid Babunagri died Thursday noon at a hospital in Chattogram after he suffered a stroke at the Madrasa. Babunagari had been suffering from different age-related complications, including kidney problems and diabetes. He took the reins of Hefazat-e-Islam in November 2020 after the death of Allama Shafi, the first Ameer and supreme leader of the organization in September 2020. Also read: Hefazat forms new committee, drops disputed leaders

The High Court on Tuesday granted bail to three activists of Hefazat-e-Islam in a case filed with Patiya Police Station of Chattogram for attack on police station and assaulting on-duty policemen on March 26. The HC bench of Justice JBM Hassan passed the order after hearing a petition. Those who secured  bail are  Maulana Mufti Ariful Islam, Imtiaz Hossain and Belal Uddin. Read: N’ganj Factory fire: Sajeeb Group chairman, two sons granted bail On March 26, some Hefazat men brought out a procession and carried out attack on Patiya Police Station. On March 30, Borhanuddin, officer-in-charge of Patiya Police Station filed a case against 700 activists of Hefazat—e-Islam. Police on April 10 arrested the three accused. Read: Thakurgaon journalist arrested under DSA gets bail Beside, the HC also granted bail to another Hefazat man identified as Manir Sardar of Mollarhat upazila in Bagerhat district in a case filed with Mollarhat Police Station. On April 22, police arrested Manir Sardar.

RAM Ubaidul Moktadir, MP of Brahmanbaria-3 constituency, has filed a case against 19 named accused including Hefazat-e-Islam’s dissolved central committee joint secretary general Sajedur Rahman for allegedly tarnishing his personal image by holding a press conference after the violence in Brahmanbaria. The case was filed Tuesday, under the Digital Security Act (DSA) with the court of Chattogram Cyber Tribunal Judge SKM Tofail Hasan. Besides 19 named accused, hundred more unidentified persons were accused in this case. Also read: People involved with Hefazat violence to be punished: Home Minister MP Ubaidul said, "Leaders and activists of Hefazat-e-Islam carried out massive violence in Brahmanbaria for three days from March 26 to 28. On March 31, they held a press briefing putting all the blame on me to save themselves.” Since journalists were not present at the press briefing they promoted the briefing videos over Facebook-YouTube. Also read: Hefazat violence in Brahmanbaria: 60 held, two more cases filed At this, his image was tarnished through the propaganda so MP Ubaidul appeared in person to file the case at Chattogram Cyber Tribunal, he said The court has been requested to direct PBI to investigate the case, plaintiff's lawyer HM Ziauddin said.

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.

Embattled Hefazat-e-Islam on Monday announced a 33-member new full-fledged committee with Junayed Babunagari as its ameer and dropping controversial leader Mamunul Haque. Hefazat leader Nurul Islam has been declared the general secretary of the committee. Nurul Islam Jihadi, central committee leader of Hefazat-e-Islam announced names of the new committee at a press briefing held at Jamia Islamia Makhjanul Madrasha in city’s Khilgaon intersection. Joint secretary general of Hefazat-e-Islam Mamunul Haq and Organising secretary Azizul Haque Islamabadi and other controversial leaders have failed to make to the committee. Hazrat Maulana Ataullah Hafezi has been made the Nayeb-e-Ameer of the committee and Hazrat Maulana Sajedur Rahman has been made the joint secretary general. Besides, Hazrat Maulana Mir Idris has been made the organising secretary while Hazrat Maulana Muhiuddin Rabbani made the publicity secretary of the committee. Also read: Hefazat central committee dissolved Meanwhile, the Hefazat-e-Islam also announced its 16-member advisory committee making Junayed Babunagari as its chief. It also announced a nine-member Central Khas Committee which has been considered as ‘Majlish e-Sura’ of the party. On April 25, Hefazat-e-Islam chief Junayed Babunagari  dissolved the organisation's central committee amid its controversial role in the vandalism launched during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Bangladesh in late March. Also read: Hefazat forms five-member convening committee Speaking in a video message from Chattogram's Hathazari Madrasa, Hefazat's spiritual headquarters, Babunagari at that time said: "Considering the overall situation of the country, the central committee has been dissolved following the advice of some of its key members." Many top Hefazat leaders have been arrested so far over the protests and violence orchestrated by the organisation's supporters and activists across the country against Modi's Bangladesh visit. At least 77 cases have been filed against Hefazat leaders and activists from across the country over clashes and vandalism. More than 69,000 people have been accused in the incidents. Babungari has announced the dissolution of the Qawmi madrasa-based organisation's central committee when its leaders, activists and supporters are being arrested in different places of the country including Dhaka every day. On June 5, a Narayanganj court sent Mamunul Haque, former joint secretary general of Hefajat-e-Islam, to Kashimpur Central Jail on completion of his 18-day remand in six separate cases. On April 18, a joint team of Tejgaon Division police and DMP's Detective Branch arrested Mamunul from Jamia Rahmania Arabia Madrasah in Mohammadpur. Mamunul, who has been in the limelight due to some recent controversies, was held with a woman he claimed to be his second wife from a resort in Sonargaon on April 3. Later, Hefazat leaders claimed that Mamunul went to the resort with his “second wife” where locals confined and harassed him before calling in the police.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday accused the government of sowing the seeds of communalism in the country in a planned way. “They (govt) are spreading the poison of communalism and sowing its seeds knowingly. Unfortunately, they have brought the communalism to Bangladesh that emerged in the neighbuoring country (India),” he said. Speaking at a virtual discussion, the BNP leader said the March-26 clashes between police and Hefazat activists took place as communalism spread in Bangladesh. “They’re now arresting people, torturing them and making them disappeared. But the Awami League government is fully responsible for what is happening now in the country due to communalism.” BNP arranged the programme marking the Buddha Purnima, the biggest religious festival of the Buddhist community. Fakhrul said democracy is disappearing and getting annihilated duet the rise of autocracy, fascism and communalism. “Democracy is getting defeated amid bigotry. It’s being defeated by authoritarianism and fascism. Those in power are killing people, depriving them of their rights and torturing them to perpetuate power. This is happening all over the world. Bangladesh is one of the worst victims of it.” He said the dreams of the people of Bangladesh, who had fought in 1971 to build a non-communal humanitarian state with equality, have broken as a group of people turned  the country into a ‘monstrous state’ by destroying all the systems just to keep themselves in power." The BNP leader said there is no peace in the country now due to the vindictive attitude of the government. “There are no efforts for the welfare of people here since a group of people are amassing wealth by plundering public money.” He urged people to get united to overcome the current situation of the country. "We’ll create a truly enlightened, democratic state with equality by removing darkness created by Awami League. "Let's take this oath today and get united irrespective of caste and religion to protect the county, restore democratic rights and save people defeating the monstrous regime.”

Enamul Hasan Faruki, the personal secretary to former Hefazat-e-Islam chief Junaid Babunagri, was arrested by Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) on Friday. Chattogram RAB-7 Commander Lieutenant Colonel Mashiur Rahman said Faruki was arrested from Fatehabad of Chattogram’s Hathazari at night. He was arrested over the violence in Hathazari. Faruki was handed over to Hathazari police, the RAB officer added. Hathazari Police said Faruki used to send all statements and press releases of Hefazat-e-Islam on behalf of Babungari. Faruki is accused in the murder case of former Hefazat chief Shah Ahmad Shafi. Another case accuses him of vandalism and arson at Hathazari Police Station building and the upazila land office.

Hefazat-e-Islam leader Mufti Farooq Ahmed was arrested Tuesday evening in a case filed over attack and vandalism in Jamserpur and Dhalipara village in Rampasha union of Sylhet’s Bishwanath upazila during the group's strike. He was arrested from Bishwanath-Osmaninagar upazila border area during a police raid led by Bishwanath Police Inspector Roma Prasad Chakraborty, Sub-Inspector Nur Hossain and Aftabuzzaman. Also read: Hefazat leader Maulana Osmani held He had been absconding since a case was filed regarding the sabotage during Hefazat-e-Islam strike on March 28 in Bishwanath. On March 29, Nazmul Islam Shipu of Dhalipara village filed the case against 312 people, naming 62 of them. Also read: B’baria violence: Hefazat leader Abdur Rahim Kasemi held Farooq Ahmed was the main accused in the case.