Hefajat-e Islam Bangladesh on Tuesday called a countrywide daylong shutdown for Sunday protesting the crackdown on its leaders and activists at Shapla Chattar in the city early Monday.Moulana Ashraf Ali Nizampuri, literature and cultural affairs secretary of the Chittagong-based Islamist group, announced the hartal programme at a pres conference at Hathazari Madrasah here.
The hartal is also meant for pushing the government for the release of all detained and arrested Hefajat leaders and activists, including secretary general Junaid Babunagri.
Besides, Ashraf said Hefajat also extended its support to the 18-party’s hartals.
He demanded a judicial inquiry into the killing of Alem Ulema at Shapla Chattar in a predawn crackdown, and punishment to those involved in it.
The BNP-led 18-party alliance is going to enforce countrywide daylong shutdowns on Wednesday and Thursday protesting the killing of unarmed Alems (Islamic scholars) in an overnight crackdown at Shapla Chattar.
On Monday night, BNP Standing Committee member Dr Khandker Mosharraf Hossain announced the hartal programme after a meeting of the 18-party alliance held with Khaleda Zia in the chair at her Gulshan office.
Several people were killed and scores of others injured as police Rab and BGB men conducted a joint operation to drive out the Hefajat men from Motijheel.
Asharf urged the government to meet their 13-point demand or else he warned that the pent-up anger of followers of Islam will make a serious outburst across the country which the law enforcers will not be able to tame.
He special prayers will be held after Juma’ prayers on Friday seeking salvation of those met the ‘martyrdom’ and quick recovery of those injured.
The Hefajat leader also threatened that they will be forced to announce harsher programmes if the detained leaders and activists of the Islamist group are not released, ‘false’ case not withdrawn and all sorts of repression and torture not stopped.
Hfajat senior leaders, including Mohibullah Babu Nagri, Hafez Shamsul Alam and Mufti Harun Izahar were, among others, present at the press conference. Meanwhile, a Dhaka court on Tuesday placed Junaid Babunagri on a nine-day remand in a case filed over May 5 city violence.
Police arrested the Hefajat secretary general from Dhakeshwari Temple area in Lalbagh on Monday night. UNB
