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 Hefazat-e-Islam central assistant publicity secretary Maulana Gaji Yaqub Osmani. He was arrested from Feni on Thursday evening. Also read: B’baria violence: Hefazat leader Junaid Qasemi held Osmani,44, is also organising secretary of Brahmanbaria district committee of Jamiat-e-Olamaye-Islam. He was accused of being involved in Hefazat’s rampage in Brahmanbaria district and all across the country on March 26, 27 and 28. Also read: Brahmanbaria mayhem: Hefazat leader among 10 arrested A special team of Brahmanbaria district police arrested him. The accused Hefazat leader has reportedly admitted to his involvement with the three-day long rampage by Hefazat in Brahmanbaria and across the country in primary interrogation, police said.

Ten top leaders  of Khelafat Majlish were arrested in the past 24 hours until Thursday morning in connection with the clashes and vandalism carried out by Hefazat-e-Islam men in Brahmanbaria last month. Md Abu Taher, President of Sarail Upazila  Khelafat Majlish confessed to his involvement in Brahmanbaria mayhem, saying it was a part of a conspiracy to oust the government from power, said police. Besides, nine more Hefazat activists were arrested. Also read: B’baria violence: Hefazat leader Junaid Qasemi held So far, 55 cases have been filed and 434 people arrested over the violence, said a press release of Brahmanbaria police. On March 27, at least five people were killed and around 50 others, including 25 policemen, injured in clashes between members of the 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 Bangladesh visit. Also read: B’baria mayhem: 6 more Hefazat men held The next day, during Hefazat's countrywide dawn-to-dusk general strike, against police action on their anti-Modi processions in Dhaka, the organisation's activists in Chattogram and other districts set three buildings on fire, 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: Brahmanbaria mayhem: Hefazat leader among 10 arrested Also, the Hefazat supporters vandalised several private and government establishments, including the municipality building, Alauddin Music Academy, and Foirtala Bus Stand in Sadar upazila. They had also attacked Brahmanbaria Press Club and confined some journalists to the premises.

A team of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the police have arrested Hefazat-e-Islam leader Maulana Junaid Qasemi in connection with a case of Hefazat violence in Brahmanbaria. He was arrested from Brahmanbaria at around 2 pm on Saturday, confirmed additional superintendent of police Jisanul Haque Jisan said. There were multiple cases against Hefazat leader Maulana Junaid Qasemi for his involvement in destructive activities and violence, and the CID had already been assigned with investigating these, he added. CID was asked to investigate 23 cases filed against the leaders and activists of Hefazat-e-Islam, across the country. The department was given the responsibility on April 19.

Members of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) arrested Hefazat-e-Islam leader Mufti Harun Izhar from a madrasha in the city’s Lalkhan Bazar area on Wednesday midnight. Mufti Harun Izhar was the Education and Cultural Secretary of the just defunct Hefazat-e-Islam and son of Mufti Izhar, said Enamul Hasan, press secretary of the party’s convening committee. A team of the elite force conducted a drive at Jamiatul Ulum Al Islamia Madrasha around 12 am and arrested Harun Izhar. He was wanted in eleven cases and had served in jail in a case filed over the grenade attack in Lalkhan Bazar Madrasha that left two students of the institute dead and several injured on October 7, 2013. Also read: Intelligence agencies to identify Hefazat financers: Minister Earlier on October 9, 2013, Mufti Harun was arrested in connection with the explosion at the madrasha. Mufti Harun Izhar also wanted in three more cases filed over Hefazat violence in Dhaka in 2013. Also Read: 2 more top Hefazat leaders held

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.