Jamaat-e-Islami has called a daylong hartal across the country for Monday as an International Crimes Tribunal is set to deliver its verdict in the case of crimes against humanity of the party’s former Ameer Prof Ghulam Azam on the day.The hartal call came on Sunday hours after the ICT-1 fixed the date for pronouncement of the verdict for today. Islami Chhatra Shibir extended its support to the hartal beginning at 6:00am.
Jamaat-e-Islami acting secretary general Maulana Rafiqul Islam announced the hartal programme through a press release issued on Sunday.
Ghulam Azam, now 91 years old, was indicted on five charges, which include his involvement in murder and torture of unarmed people, conspiracy, planning, incitement and complicity to commit genocide and crimes against humanity during the War of Liberation.
Jamaat-e-Islami enforced separate hartals on the day of verdicts of top leaders Abdul Quader Mollah, Maulana Delwar Hossain Saydee and Muhammad Quamaruzzaman.
Meanwhile, Jamaat-Shibir activists staged demonstration in different parts of the city including Purana Paltan, Kakrail and Malibagh areas soon after announcing the programme. They vandalised several motor vehicles and set fire on a car.
In the statement, Rafiqul Islam Khan said the countrywide hartal was called for Monday protesting what he said the government conspiracy to create a vacuum of party leadership and demanding the release of Ghulam Azam.
“Despite the peoples sufferings in the month of Ramzan, we have compelled to announce the programme to resist the government conspiracy to kill any person unjustly,” said the statement.
The Jamaat leader called upon the people from all walks of life including country’s intellectuals, academicians, jurists, journalists, businessmen, ulema, farmers and workers to observe the hartal spontaneously.
Ambulance, hospitals, pharmacies and vehicles carrying journalists will remain out of the purview of hartal, said the statement.
– Staff Reporter
