United News of Bangladesh

Referring to Shapla Chattar violence in 2013, Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder on Saturday said the two days of violence claimed the lives of at least 58 people, including seven members of the security forces. “When the whole world was confused about how many people were killed in the massacre, I took on the challenging work with Mark Dummett, a former BBC correspondent in Dhaka,” he said, describing how they came to the conclusion that the two days of violence claimed the lives of at least 58 people. “Every time I see Hefazat-e-Islam holding a major demonstration, I remember my investigation for Human Rights Watch on the Shapla Chattar massacre,” he said in a post from his Facebook account. Azad said those who are now navigating the realm of journalism, defending human rights, perhaps cannot even imagine how difficult the task was. Repatriation: CA’s DPS Azad shares stories behind talks with Myanmar in Bangkok During the two-week-long investigation, digging through streets, hospital logbooks, meeting the families of victims, talking to witnesses and collecting the evidence of burials, trying to convince people to open up, Azad said, he always carried the fear of being spotted by security forces and disappearing. “For security reasons, I could never claim the credit for my work earlier, but whenever I see a fellow journalist use my work as a reference, it gives me real pleasure,” Azad said. Recently, deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and 33 others were accused of "mass killing" in a case filed over the attack on a Hefazat-e-Islam rally in Motijheel on 5 May 2013.

Maulana Jubair Ahmed, vice-president of Hefazat-e-Islam's Dhaka city unit has been detained from his residence in the capital today. Iftekhairul Islam, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Media & PR Division) confirmed the news to UNB. He said the arrest was made at around 5pm based on an anonymous tip. Also read: Another top Hefazat leader arrested Maulana Jubair was arrested on charges of his involvement in the Shapla Chattar violence on May 5, 2013. Police sources added that he is also accused in multiple cases for his alleged involvement with the recent violence in protest of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit. Police have now arrested Hefazat central organising secretary Azizul Haque Islamabadi, assistant secretary general Sakhawat Hossein Raji, central committee assistant secretary general Manjurul Islam and assistant-publicity secretary Mufti Sharifullah in cases related to Shapla Chattar violence on May 5, 2013 - although few doubt the drive against the organisation's leadership stems from the opposition they displayed against the Indian prime minister. Also read: Hefazat leader Azizul Haque Islamabadi held in Chattogram The courts have also granted law enforcers several days to interrogate them in remand. The most high profile arrest so far has been the one of Islamabadi. He was arrested from Chittagong on Sunday. The court granted 7 days' remand for him.