Dhaka Metropolitan Police
313 identified for financing Hefazat
Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has identified at least 313 individuals financing Hefazat-e-Islam.
Additional Commissioner (DB), AKM Hafiz Akhteer revealed the matter to the press in a briefing at the DB Headquarters.
He said, "We have identified 313 people who provided funds to Hefazat so far."
The DB official also said that a few Hefazat leaders, including Mamunul Haque and Junaid Al Habib, met at the wedding of the son of Junaid Babunagari, former Amir of Hefazat-e-Islam, and planned to remove Shah Ahmad Shafi last year.
Later they drove away leaders loyal to Shafi after creating chaos and anarchy at Hathazari Madrasa as per the plan, he said.
Hafiz also added that they have traced over Tk 6 crore transactions in different bank accounts of Mamunul.
He said that police derived all this information from the recently arrested top leaders of Hefazat.
More than a dozen top Hefazat leaders of the recently dissolved committee were arrested in cases filed over violence in 2013 and earlier this year.
Lockdown climbdown: 10am-9pm for shopping confirmed
Shops and shopping malls will be allowed to remain open from 10am to 9pm instead of earlier-announced 5pm amid the lockdown enforced by the government to contain the transmission of Covid-19.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Md Shariful Islam confirmed the matter.
Earlier on April 23, Cabinet Division issued a notice permitting shops and malls to reopen from April 25 maintaining proper safety protocols.
Also read: Pandemic in Bangladesh: Shops, malls reopen doors
The second phase of lockdown started on April 22 and is supposed to continue until April 28.
Earlier on April 5, public transports, shops and shopping malls were directed to remain shut in capital Dhaka as the country started a 7-day lockdown.
Talking to UNB, local and international health experts, however, predicted Bangladesh is unlikely to see any improvement in the Covid-19 situation before June next as the country is still in the grip of its second wave.
Also read: 'Strict’ lockdown again if health rules violated: Quader
Using a mathematical model, Bangladesh Como Modelling Group, a group of experts from both Bangladesh and Oxford University, also projected that the country will witness the similar infection rate intermittently till the end of May while the situation may improve in June.
Meanwhile, after a slight fall for several days, Bangladesh’s daily coronavirus death toll crossed the 100-mark again on Sunday with a sharp fall in new cases.
Also read: Covid-19 in Bangladesh: Daily deaths shoot past 100; new cases fall dramatically
Fatalities climbed to 11,053 with 101 deaths in the past 24 hours until the morning. The virus also infected 2,922 people, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) said in a handout.
Bangladesh has so far confirmed 745,322 coronavirus cases.
Mamunul controversy: Jharna's father now in police custody
Waliyar Rahman, father of Hefazat-e-Islam Joint Secretary General Mamunul Haque's "second wife" Jannat e Jharna, has been taken into police custody for interrogation.
Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police left for Dhaka from Faridpur's Alfadanga Police Station with Waliyar on Sunday at around 11:30am.
Waliyar is a freedom fighter and was the president of ward 4 of Gopalpur Union Awami League in Alfadanga upazila. On 21 April, he was suspended from his post.
Also read: AL leaders receiving death threats for showcausing Mamunul's 'father in law'
Alfadanga Police Station Officer-in-Charge Wahiduzzaman said, "Waliyar was not detained or arrested, DB police will talk to him for the sake of an investigation."
Waliyar's wife Shirin Begum said the OC and other policemen came at night and took him away, but they did not say why.
Earlier, local Awami League leaders alleged that they had received death threats for issuing a showcause notice to Waliyar.
Also Read: Hefazat leader Mamunul's '2nd wife' goes missing; GD filed
Monayem Khan, Faridpur's Alfadanga upazila Gopalpur union Awami League president, filed a general diary (GD) with the police station in this regard.
According to the GD, Monayem received death threats from three different phone numbers on April 13 evening, for issuing the showcause notice.
Md Farid Uddin, general secretary of the same Awami League unit, also reportedly received death threats the same evening from a number where the caller identified himself as Mamunul.
On April 12, the local Awami League issued a showcause notice to freedom fighter Waliyar. The notice was sent to him through a letter signed by Monayem and Farid over his alleged link with Hefazat.
Also Read: Woman who was with Hefazat leader Mamunul is not his wife
Waliyar never informed the party leaders about his family's involvement with Hefazat; so, it is a risk that the organisational work plan of Awami League may be leaked through him, the letter said.
A satisfactory reply within the seven working days was also sought in the notice, but Waliyar did not respond to it.
On April 3, Mamunul Haque was found along with a woman, at a resort in Narayanganj's Sonargaon, whom he claimed to be his "second wife."
Another top Hefazat leader held in city
Detective Branch (DB) members of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) arrested another top leader of Hefazat Islam Bangladesh from the city's West Agargaon area on Saturday afternoon.
The arrestee is Dr Ahmad Abdul Kader, the Nayebe Ameer of Hefazat Islam Bangladesh.
Also Read: Hefazat leader Qurban Ali Kasemi arrested in Dhaka
Tipped off, a team of the DB (Tejgaon Division) police conducted a drive at West Agargaon around 7 pm and arrested Dr Abdul Kader, said DMP Additional DC (media) Iftekharul Islam.
Dr Abdul Kader, who was the former president of Islami Chhatra Shibir, was arrested in connection with several cases filed with different police stations including Paltan police station recently.
Also Read: 2 more top Hefazat leaders held
Many Hefazat leaders have been arrested in the country recently following the vandalism and arson attack carried out by its activists across the country against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Bangladesh last month.
Another Hefazat leader arrested in city
Police on Thursday arrested another leader of Hefazat-e-Islam from the city’s Bangshal area on Thursday evening.
The arrestee is Mawlana Ihteshamul Haque Sathi, assistant office secretary of Hefazat-e-Islam Dhaka city unit.
Iftekhairul Islam, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Media & PR Division) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) said Ihteshamul Haque was arrested around 5:30 pm.
Also Read: 2 more top Hefazat leaders held
Earlier in the morning members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested Khaled Syfullah Ayubi, assistant secretary general of Hefazat-e-Islam's central unit, from Singair upazila of Manikganj district.
On Wednesday, three top Hefazat-e-Islam leaders were arrested from Dhaka's Mohammadpur and Kafrul areas.
They were Mawlana Khurshid Alam Kasemi, nayeb-e-ameer of Khilafat Majlish and vice-president of Hefazat-e-Islam, Maulana Ataullah Amin, assistant general secretary of Hefazat's Dhaka city unit and joint secretary general of Bangladesh Khilafat Majlish, and Mufti Sharafat Hossain, joint general secretary of Khilafat Majlish.
Also Read: Hefazat leader Qurban Ali Kasemi arrested in Dhaka
On Tuesday, Mawlana Qurban Ali Kasemi, vice-president of Hefazat-e-Islam and joint secretary general of Khilafat Majlish, was also arrested from Dhaka's Basabo.
On April 18, Hefazat's joint secretary general Mamunul Haq was arrested from a Mohammadpur madrasa.
Many top Hefazat leaders have been arrested recently following vandalism and arson carried out by the organisation's supporters across the country against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bangladesh visit last month.
Also read: Hefazat leader Mamunul Haq finally arrested
Other arrested leaders include Hefazat's Dhaka city unit president Junaid Al-Habib, vice-president Maulana Jubair Ahmed; assistant general secretary Jalaluddin Ahmed, assistant publicity secretary Sharifullah and organising secretary Azizul Haque Islamabadi.
2 more top Hefazat leaders held
Two more top Hefazat-e-Islam leaders were arrested from Dhaka's Mohammadpur on Wednesday.
Mawlana Khurshid Alam Kasemi, nayeb-e-ameer of Khilafat Majlish and vice-president of Hefazat-e-Islam, was arrested in the evening.
Maulana Ataullah Amin, assistant general secretary of Hefazat's Dhaka city unit and joint secretary general of Bangladesh Khilafat Majlish, was held in the early hours of the day.
Also read: Another top Hefazat leader held in city
Also, Mufti Sharafat Hossain, joint general secretary of Khilafat Majlish, was arrested from Kafrul on the same day at 5pm.
Iftekharul Islam, additional deputy commissioner (media) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police confirmed the arrests.
Also read: Hefazat leader Qurban Ali Kasemi arrested in Dhaka
On Tuesday, Mawlana Qurban Ali Kasemi, vice-president of Hefazat-e-Islam and joint secretary general of Khilafat Majlish, was also arrested from Dhaka's Basabo.
On April 18, Hefazat's Joint Secretary General Mamunul Haq was arrested from a Mohammadpur madrasa.
Also read: Hefazat leader Mamunul Haq finally arrested
Many top Hefazat leaders have been arrested recently following vandalism and arson carried out by the organisation's supporters across the country against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bangladesh visit last month.
Other arrested leaders include Hefazat's Dhaka city unit President Junaid Al-Habib, Vice-President Maulana Jubair Ahmed; Assistant General Secretary Jalaluddin Ahmed, Assistant Publicity Secretary Sharifullah and Organising Secretary Azizul Haque Islamabadi.
Hefazat leader Qurban Ali Kasemi arrested in Dhaka
Mawlana Qurban Ali Kasemi, Vice-President of Hefazat-e-Islam and Joint Secretary General of Khilafat Majlish, was arrested from Dhaka's Basabo area on Tuesday.
Members of Detective Branch (DB) arrested the Islamist leaders at 5:30pm, said Iftekharul Islam, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Media) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP).
Also read: Hefazat amir demands release of arrested leaders
Earlier on April 18, Hefazat's Joint Secretary General Mamunul Haq was arrested from a madrasah in Mohammadpur area.
More arrests of Hefazat’s senior leaders were made in recent time after Hefazat supporters' acts of violence at different parts of the country protesting against the visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi marking the celebration of golden jubilee of the country’s independence last month.
Also read: Hefazat leader Mamunul Haq finally arrested
Other arrested leaders include Hefazat’s Dhaka city unit president Junaid Al-Habib, assistant general secretary Jalaluddin Ahmed, its Dhaka City unit vice-president Maulana Jubair Ahmed, Assistant Publicity Secretary Sharifullah and organising secretary Azizul Haque Islamabadi.
4 held with 44,000 yaba pills in Dhaka
Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police on Sunday arrested four members of a narcotics ring with 44,000 pieces of contraband yaba pills from the capital's Khilgaon.
The arrestees were identified as Md Sujon, 30, Md Mosharaf Hossain, 40, Md Ashraf Ali, 26, and Md Jahirul Islam, 31.
Also read: RAB arrests drug dealers, recovers yaba, hemp
Policemen nabbed the four from the Banashree area during a drive and also seized a truck, used for carrying narcotics, from them, said Assistant Commissioner of DB Madhusudan Das.
"A case has been filed with Khilgaon Police Station in connection with the incident," he added.
Also read: Bangladesh Coast Guard seizes 30,000 yaba pills in Teknaf
"The arrestees would transport yaba pills to Dhaka from Cox's Bazar in a special chamber created on the roof of the driving seat of the truck," Madhusudan said.
2 more senior Hefazat leaders arrested from Dhaka
Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) arrested two Dhaka city unit leaders of Hefazat-e-Islam from the city’s Baridhara and Mohammadpur areas on Saturday.
The arrestees are Hefazat-e-Islam Dhaka city unit president Junaid Al Habib and its assistant general secretary Jalal Uddin Ahmed.
Also read: Another Hefazat leader detained
Contacted, Joint Commissioner (DB) of the DMP Mahbub Alam said Junaid Al Habib, also Hefazat’s central joint secretary general, was arrested from a Madrasa of Baridhara just before Iftar on Saturday.
Besides, Hefazat city unit assistant secretary general Jalal Uddin Ahmed, who is also central committee Assistant Secretary General, was arrested from his Mohammadpur residence at around 2:00 pm, the Joint Commissioner (DB) said.
Also read: Another top Hefazat leader arrested
Replying to a question, he said the two Hefazat leaders were arrested in connection with the case filed with Motijheel police station for the mayhem carried out in 2013 and also for the case filed with Paltan police station in March last month in connection with the violence in Baitul Mukkarram Mosque area (during Modi's visit).
On Friday afternoon the DB also arrested another leader of the religious organisation, Jubair Ahmed, from Lalbagh.
Also read: Hefazat leader Azizul Haque Islamabadi held in Chattogram
With the arrest of the two Hefazat leaders, the number of arrests of Hefazat leaders rose to seven by the DB police from the city in recent weeks.
DMP bans firearms, agitations in Jatiya Sangsad area
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has banned carrying firearms and holding rallies, processions or agitation in and around Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban ahead of the 12th session of the 11th parliament, scheduled to begin April 1.
The DMP’s restrictions will be effective from 12am on Wednesday night, police said in a press release on Tuesday.
DMP said the ban would be in force until the end of the session.
The restrictions have been imposed to maintain law and order in and around the parliament area to ensure undisrupted holding of the coming session.
The restricted areas are Mohakhali crossing of Mymensingh Road to Bangla Motor crossing via Old Airport Road, the western part of Bangla Motor Link Road to Saarc Fountain at Sonargaon crossing, the eastern part of Panthapath to Farmgate via Green Road Link Road, Shyamoli crossing to Dhanmondi 16 (old 27) Link Road on Mirpur Road, Rokeya Sarani Link Road to Bijoy Sarani Parjatan crossing via old 9th division (airplane) crossing, the eastern part of Indira Road to Manik Mia Avenue's western part, and restricted parts of Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban and all the roads and lanes in the area.