DHAKA: Ameer of Hefajat-e-Islam Allama Shah Ahmed Shafi has been sent to Hathazari in Chittagong from his Dhaka city office at Lalbagh in the city on Monday afternoon. Police earlier raided his office and cut off his communication with followers.Sources said the members of law enforcement agency started for Chittagong with the Hefajat chief around 3:00 pm. Meanwhile, Police detained Hefajat-e-Islam secretary general Junaid Babunagri from Dhakeshwari Temple area in Lalbagh on Monday night. DC (Lalbagh zone) Harun-Or-Rashid told UNB that Babunagri was detained at about 8 pm for interrogation.
His detention came hours after Hefajat Ameer Allama Shah Ahmed Shafi was forced out to Chittagong from his Lalbagh Madrasah office.
Earlier in the day, the law enforcement Policeagency besieged Dhaka city office of Hefajat-e-Islam at Lalbagh.
A huge number of police personnel led by Deputy Commissioner of Lalbagh Zone Harun-or-Rashid besieged Jamiatul Arabia Madrassa–the office of Hefajat–as top leaders of Hefajat-e-Islam remained here.
Hefazat-e Islam chief Ahmad Shafi did not attend the rally at Motijheel’s Shapla Chattar for ‘security reasons’ on Saturday. His supporters awaited his arrival to lead ‘munajat’ and announce fresh programme.The Publicity Secretary of Dhaka metropolitan unit Ahmudullah Oyales said Shafi in a message told supporters not to halt their ‘sit-in’ in the capital’s commercial hub unless their demands were met.
Police said he returned suddenly to Lalbagh madrasa after reaching Azimpur. Hefazat General Secretary Junaid Babu Nagari said Shafi was barred from joining the rally.
“Ahmad Shafi is not being allowed to join the rally,” he told journalists over telephone from the rally spot.
He hung up the phone after he was asked about the possible reason behind the ‘police move’.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner (Lalbagh Division) Harunur Rashid said, “Shafi had started for the rally but returned (to Lalbagh) after reaching near the education board.”
Shafi was present in Hifazat’s Apr 6 rally in the same neighbourhood, but he did not address it. His son Ahmad Anas read out a brief written statement on his behalf.
Earlier in the evening, an announcement from the main stage of the rally said Shafi would announce Hifazat’s future programme from the rally.
Ten people have been killed in the clashes between activists of Hifazat-e Islam, the law enforcers and AL activists in the streets surrounding the Baitul Mukarram in the capital.
Hifazat-e Islam activists have vandalised and torched the headquarters of the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) at Purana Paltan.
Some Hizajat activists, who were already at Motijheel, clashed with law enforcers at around 12pm near Paltan. Soon the clashes spread to Kakrail, Naya Paltan and other adjacent areas turning the whole area virtually into a battlefield.
The violence first erupted after authorities permitted the Hifazat to hold its 3pm rally in the day. The clearance came amidst the Hifazat’s Dhaka blockade that has effectively cut off the capital from most districts since early Sunday.
The Hifazat blockade programme aims to pressure the government into accepting the controversial 13-point charter of demands.
Similar picketing in support of the blockade took place on Demra road, where Hifazat supporters were seen tearing down film posters. “Curbs on obscenity in films’ is one of Hifazat’s key demands.
The Hifazat activists stated moving towards Motijheel rally venue from different gateways to the city including Jatrabarhi, Demra, Uttara and Gabtali after their road blockade until noon when police informed that they have been permitted to hold rally from 3pm to 6pm.
((Source: banglanews24.com with reporting from bdnews24.com)
