Hefazat
Hefazat's Mamunul detained with woman from resort
Hefazat-e-Islam’s Joint Secretary General Mamunul Haque, who has been the loudest voice in the organisation in a number of recent controversies, has been detained with a woman he claims as his second wife from a resort in Sonargaon.
Mahanagar Hefazat’s secretary said Mamunul went to the resort with his second wife where the locals confined and harassed him, before calling in the police on Saturday.
Maulana Ferdausur Rahman, the Mahanagar secretary, confirmed to UNB that Mamumunul Haque is in police custody as of Saturday evening.
Also read: Hathazari Hefazat-police clash: 2,500 accused in 7 cases
The woman detained with him is his second wife as claimed by Mamunul Haque, said Ferdausur Rahman.
Narayanganj’s Hefazat’s leaders are looking into the matter visiting the scene, he said.
Also read: Hefazat attack instigators won’t be spread: IGP
Sonargaon police station’s inspector (Investigation), Tobidur Rahman said, the situation is under control and Maulana Mamunul Haque along with the woman is under custody for now.
Officer-in-Charge of the police station, Rafikul Islam said investigation going on to confirm the identity of the woman detained with the Hafazat leader.
Also read: Hefazat Amir demands punishment of Hathazari OC
Police didn’t share any further detail as investigation was going on.
Meanwhile Maulana Mamunul Haque threatened to file case against the journalists who were trying take photograph and video footage of him.
India hopes Dhaka will address Hefazat's anti-Modi protests
India Friday hoped that the Bangladesh government would aptly address the challenges posed by protests spearheaded by Hefazat-e-Islam, an prominent Islamist group, in Chittagong during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to the neighbouring country.
Modi was in Bangladesh on March 26-27 to attend the golden jubilee celebrations of the country's independence and the birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
But the Indian PM's visit triggered violent protests in several parts of Bangladesh, leaving at least 12 people dead. In the city of Chittagong, the protests were led by Hefazat-e-Islam.
Also read: Hefazat’s day-long hartal ends amid violence, clashes
"As far as the violence is concerned, we have always been against fundamentalism and extremism. We are confident that the Bangladesh government will address the challenge," Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi told the media in Delhi.
Even though Hefazat-e-Islam claims to be a “non-political” outfit, the group has gained prominence after the fall of Jamaat-e-Islami, Bangladesh’s largest Islamist political party.
Also read: Hefazat activists stage demo in Chattogram; Hartal tomorrow
Apparently making it clear that the protests by Hefazat-e-Islam would not cast any shadow on the amicable ties between India and Bangladesh, the Foreign Ministry spokesperson said: "Modi's visit to Bangladesh had facilitated significant decisions to reinforce the legacy of 1971 and this is in furtherance of India-Bangladesh bilateral cooperation."
Ahead of his two-day visit to Dhaka, Modi tweeted: “Our partnership with Bangladesh is an important pillar of our Neighbourhood First policy, and we are committed to further deepen and diversify it. We will continue to support Bangladesh’s remarkable development journey, under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s dynamic leadership."
Hefazat, police clash in Gazipur; 20 injured
At least 20 people were injured on Friday when supporters of Hefazat-e-Islam clashed with police at Gazipur’s Chandona.
The skirmish disrupted traffic at Board Bazar and surrounding areas.
Also read: Hathazari Hefazat-police clash: 2,500 accused in 7 cases
Hathazari Hefazat-police clash: 2,500 accused in 7 cases
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.
Hefazat attack instigators won’t be spread: IGP
Inspector General of Police Benazir Ahmed on Wednesday said that people who are behind the violence unleashed by Hefazat-e-Islam would be brought to book.
The IGP made the remarks at Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in the afternoon while visiting police members injured in clashes with Hefazat in Chattogram and Brahmanbaria.
Hefazat’s top brass was not sued as they were not present on the spot of during the clashes and sabotage, Benazir said.
Also read: Hefazat announces ‘doa mahfil' for Monday, 'demonstration' on April 2
“But action will be taken against them if they’re found involved with the clashes and violence,” he said. “Those who launched the attack were named in the cases but [our] investigation will also reveal the names of instigators.”
“Their barbaric attack was an attempt to tarnish the golden jubilee celebration of country’s independence,” he said.
Also read: Hefazat’s day-long hartal ends amid violence, clashes
On Sunday, six separate cases were filed against 3,000 people over sabotage on the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway in Narayanganj during Hefazat’s daylong hartal.
Siddhirganj police have filed five cases and the Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) another.
Also read: Hefazat’s hartal underway; Dhaka-Chattorgam highway blocked
Clashes, vandalism, arson attacks and road blockades at different parts of the country were reported during the hardline Islamist group’s daylong hartal on Sunday.
Hefazat called for the shutdown demanding punishment of policemen involved in shooting incidents in Chattogram and Brahmanbaria during their anti-Modi protests that left at least nine people dead, including several Hefazat activists.
Evil intentions to create anarchy will be resisted: Hanif
Awami League Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif on Tuesday said that any evil intention to create anarchy centering the golden jubilee celebration will be resisted strictly.
He was speaking to journalists at the Pabna Circuit House in the morning over recent mayhem of Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh.
BNP-Jamaat tried to trigger anarchy in 2013 by misleading Madrasa students but the government and people resisted them together, he said.
Hanif accused the BNP-Jamaat alliance and Hefazat of using religion for personal gains.
“Stop using orphan children for personal interest, otherwise the government will deal with you sternly,” he said. Hefazat enforced a daylong strike on Sunday that 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.
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.
Govt instigated communal forces, alleges Fakhrul
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.
Hefazat announces ‘doa mahfil' for Monday, 'demonstration' on April 2
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.
Hartal: 30 hurt during clash with cops in Narayanganj
At least 30 people were injured including one with bullet in a clash between hartal supporters and members of law enforcement agencies in Mouchak area of Siddhirganj upazila in Narayanganj on Sunday.
The bullet-hit victim was identified as Sakib, 30.
Jayedul Islam, superintendent of Narayanganj Police, said some hartal supporters took position in Mouchak area and put up barricade on the road by placing logs and burning tyres at noon.
Also read: Clashes in Brahmanbaria leave five dead
2 BRTC buses torched in Rajshahi
Unidentified criminals set two stationary buses of Bangladesh Road Transport and Corporation (BRTC) on fire at Rajshahi Truck Terminal in the city’s Amchattar area on Sunday during the countrywide daylong hartal enforced by Hefazat-e-Islam.
Senior Station officer of Fire Service and Civil Defense of Rajshahi Abdur Rauf said the criminals set a bus of BRTC on fire around 6:30 am and the fire spread to another stationary bus of BRTC.
On information, fire fighters rushed to the spot and extinguished the blaze.
Also read: Hefazat’s hartal underway; Dhaka-Chattorgam highway blocked
However, no causality was reported till the filling of this report.
Saiful Islam Khan, officer-in-charge of Shah Makhdum Police Station, said police are investigating the incident.
The countrywide dawn-to-dusk hartal enforced by Hefazat-e-Islam protesting police action on their anti-Modi processions in Dhaka, Chattogram and other districts is underway on Sunday.
Also read: Hefazat calls countrywide hartal for Sunday
Hefazat-e-Islam announced the day long countrywide hartal at a press briefing at Purana Paltan in the capital on Friday night.
They also held nationwide demonstrations on Saturday.