Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh (HIB) has finally postponed its planned grand rally at Shapla Square in the city scheduled for Tuesday as it
failed to obtain permission from the authorities concern.
“Despite taking all-out preparation it is not possible to hold the rally because of obstruction created by the government,” said HIB
nayebe ameer and Dhaka city convenor Maulana Noor Hossain Kashemi said this at a press conference at Baridhara Jamia Madania Madrasha on
Monday.
Protesting the government’s move, he said they wanted to hold the rally peacefully but failed to do it due to the obstruction of the
government.
“I am leaving this to the people to judge. Hefazat ameer Allama Ahmad Shafi will soon announce tougher action protesting the government’s
obstruction,” he said.
The HIB leader said application for permission had duly been submitted to the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) on November 30 but the DMP
officials have been directly informed them the permission for the rally would not be given.
He alleged that law enforcers prevented HIB ameer Allama Shafi Ahmad and secretary general Mualana Zonayed Babunagori to come to Dhaka when
they started from Hathazari Madrasha at about 10:00am.
HIB leaders—Maulana Abdur Rab Yusufi, Maulana Jafrullah Khan, Maulana Jonayed Al Habib, Maulana Abul Kalam, Abdul Khaleque, Mahfuzul Haque
and Tayeb Hossain, among others, were present at the press conference.
Meanwhile, HIB central leaders will hold a meeting with Dhaka city HIB leaders at Hathazari Madrasha to discuss the latest development,
strategies and next course of action, source said.
HIB leader Maulana Azizul Haque told reporters that tougher action would be taken from the meeting protesting the government’s
obstruction to hold the rally.
The HIB announced the Shapla Square rally from a press briefing at Al-Jamiatul Alia Darul Ulum Moinul Islam Madrasah at Hathazari in
Chittagong on November 24.
Earlier, the HIB had planned to hold a grand rally at Shapla Square on November 15 but the programme was postponed as it coincided with the
holy Ashura and the three-day ‘Jor‘ Ijtema, a preparatory event of the two-phase Biswa Ijtema of Tablig-e-Jamaat.
On early morning on May 6, law enforcers flushed out a sitting programme of the HIB at Shapla Square when they tried to stay
overnight declining the government call to vacate the place.
The incident sparked off massive criticism of the government handling of action to drive away the HIB supporters by force leaving widespread
violence and injury to many.
Kashemi expressed his resentment not to allow them to hold the rally saying that it would increase the people’s anger created following the
police action on the HIB sit in programme on May 5.
Replying to a question, he said the political crisis created centering the election is not acceptable.
The HIB leader also called upon both the government and opposition to resolve the impasse through talks. Otherwise, he cautioned that the
HIB would not sit idle if the standstill situation continues.
He demanded immediate release of HIB leaders including Mufti Ijhar and Mufti Wakkas. – Staff Reporter
