News Desk :
Leaders and activists of Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh staged demonstration in Dhaka and Chattogram on Saturday demanding judicial probe into the death of their four activists during Friday’s clashes with cops and punishment of the “policemen responsible for the shooting”.
In Dhaka, they staged the protest at the north gate of Baitul Mukarram 12 noon. At that time, they chanted slogans against the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
A large number of law enforcers were deployed in Paltan area including Baitul Mukarram centering the protest.
Hefazat-e-Islam central joint secretary general Fazlul Karim Qasemi said, “Modi’s visit was marred by the blood of “martyrs”. The movement for the fall of the government will start if the hartal faces obstruction.”
The organisation joint secretary general Maulana Mamunul Haque in his speech said, “Panic has been created after entering into the mosque. Helmet forces have created panic with showdown.”
As part of their nationwide demonstration announced on Friday, Hefazat men held a rally on the premises of Jamiatul Falah Mosque in Chattogram city after Zohar prayers.
Then the Hefazat activists brought out a procession from there that paraded Wasa crossing, Almas Cinema Hall crossing at Kazir Deuri before ending on the mosque ground.
Speakers at the rally demanded punishment of the policemen responsible for Friday’s shooting and a judicial inquiry into the incident.
They also urged people to make Sunday’s countrywide hartal a success.
Hefazat-e-Islam central committee Naib-e-Ameer and metropolitan secretary Lokman Hakim, central committee organising secretary Allama Azizul Haque Islamabadi, Hefazat-e-Islam leader Mirza Yasin, metropolitan leader Yusuf bin Yaqub, Maulana Shamim and central committee member Sayem Ullah spoke on the occasion.
On Friday, Hefazat-e-Islam called a dawn-to-dusk countrywide hartal for Sunday protesting police action on their anti-Modi rally in Dhaka, Chattogram and other districts.
Hefazat chief Junaid Babungari released a video message in this regard.
A clash involving Hefazat supporters and police left four people dead and at least 15 others injured at Hathazari in Chattogram on Friday.
The clash took place when police opened fire after a group of protestors attacked Hathazari thana compound and Hathazari land office and set fire to a vehicle.
