Our Correspondent :
Hefazat-e Islam Bangladesh leaders on Sunday issued a warning asserting that any attempt to shut down the Qaumi madrasas by imposing lockdown to contain coronavirus would not be accepted.
Maulana Junayed Babunagari, Ameer of Hefazat-e Islam Bangladesh, said that any attempt to stop offering prayers and holding eteaqaf at mosques would not be allowed.
“Coronavirus will not come to mosques owing to the Quran and Hadith tafsir and prayers during the holy month of Ramadan,” he said.
Maulana Junayed Babunagari was addressing a press conference on Sunday afternoon after attending an emergency meeting of the central committee of Hefazat-e Islam at Jamiatul Ahlia Darul Ulum Moinul Islam Madrasa at Hathazari in Chattogram in the morning.
The Hefazat ameer said attempt to shut down madrasas in the name of containing coronavirus would not be allowed. Besides, attempt to stop offering prayers at mosques won’t be accepted. “Tarabih prayers will continue, Jumma prayers will continue, and Eteqaf will continue at mosques,” he asserted.
“We don’t want fall of this government. We don’t receive any grant from the government. We’ve no conflict with them. The government can rule the country up to 200 years, if necessary. We don’t have any problem about it. But, we would never accept any wrong step against Islam and Qaumi movement,” he said.
Following the meeting, it was stated to journalists that Hefazat-e Islam had no programme on March 26 last. But, the angry people brought out processions protesting the attack on devotees at Baitul Mukarram Mosque in Dhaka by police and ruling party backed hooligans in a planned way. Police killed five people firing on the processions at Hathazari and Brahmanbaria.
In protest against the killings, the Hefazat-e Islam announced peaceful hartal program for March 27 and March 28. But, the police and ruling party backed cadres killed 21 people after opening fire on the Hefazat’s peaceful program.
“We want to make it clear that Hefazat did not commit any vandalism, rather the terrorists of Chhatra League, Jubo League and Sramik League committed vandalism through secret attacks. Now, the government is blaming the Hefazat. Some government backed individuals and anti-Islamic media outlets are now telling lies about our peaceful program,” said Babunagari.
“But, we want to know the truth. Who committed vandalism during our peaceful hartal? Who vandalised and set fire to the government and private offices. Certainly, there are video footages of the CCTV cameras there. Arrest the culprits examining the video footage. But, don’t harass the innocent Alems, Ulemas, madrasa students and people. Stop mass arrest of Hefazat leaders and activists as early as possible. Withdraw all false cases filed against Hefazat leaders and activists. Release those who have been arrested,” he said.
