Hefazat
Intelligence agencies to identify Hefazat financers: Minister
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal on Wednesday said intelligence agencies are trying to identify the financers of Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh.
“Intelligence agencies are working to identify those who provide financial support to Hefazat. We’ve got some information about them, but we don't want to disclose that now. We’ll inform you once the investigation is over,” the Home Minister said while talking to reporters at his Dhanmondi residence on Wednesday.
The Home Minister said: “Everything – where’s the money coming from and how much is coming to whose account -- will be dug out through the investigation.”
Also read: People involved with Hefazat violence to be punished: Home Minister
The Home Minister went on saying, "As per our investigation, Hefazat-e-Islam carried out violence with an aim to repeat the incident of Shapla Chattar it unleashed in 2013."
“They certainly had a political ambition. Our law enforcement agencies are investigating various secret activities of the organisation,” Asaduzzaman Khan said.
He said that the constitution of Hefazat-e-Islam clearly states that they will not be involved in any political issue and remain above politics. “But we’ve noticed that identified terrorists and militants have become involved in politics and creating a volatile situation in the country.”
Asked about Hefazat Ameer Babunagari, who was sued but no action has been taken yet against him, the minister said, “There was a case filed against Babunagari in 2013. He was arrested at that time and later he was released on bail. I can share with you after having an idea about the status of the case.”
Also read: Won’t tolerate anarchy: Home Minister
The Home Minister said legal action would be taken against those who will commit any crime.
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.
B’baria mayhem: 6 more Hefazat men held
Six more people have been arrested in the past 24 hours in connection with last month's mayhem by Hefazat-e-Islam supporters in Brahmanbaria, police said on Tuesday.
The arrests were made from different parts of Brahmanbaria after identifying the accused from video footage and images taken during the violence, the district police said.
Two of the six arrested have been identified as Sadekpr Union Chartra Olama Oikko Parishad’s secretary Kwari Md Mojammel Haque and Ashuganj upajila Hefazat-e-Islam and Imam Parishad secretary Maulana Mufti Obaydullah.
Also read: People involved with Hefazat violence to be punished: Home Minister
So far, 55 cases have been filed and 375 people nabbed over the rampage, the district police said in a release.
On March 27, at least five people were killed and around 50 others, including 25 cops, injured in clashes between members of law enforcement agencies and locals during Hefazat’s demonstrations at Nandanpur in Sadar upazila.They had staged the protests against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Bangladesh.
The next day, during Hefazat’s countrywide dawn-to-dusk hartal protesting police action on their anti-Modi processions in Dhaka, Chattogram and other districts, activists set fire to three buildings, including the land office in Brahmanbaria Sadar upazila.
They had also attacked a Chattogram-bound train at Talshohor Rail Station in Brahmanbaria town.
Also read: Brahmanbaria mayhem: Hefazat leader among 10 arrested
Besides, the Hefazat supporters also vandalised several private and government establishments, including Zila Parishad building, municipality building, Police Lines, Industrial School, land office, Alauddin Music Academy, and Foirtala Bus Stand in Sadar upazila.
The supporters had also attacked Brahmanbaria Press Club and confined some journalists to the premises.
Didn’t do anything wrong: Mamunul tells court
Hefazat-e-Islam leader Mamunul Haque told a Dhaka court on Monday that he had gone to Baitul Mukarram on March 26 at the request of a police Deputy Inspector General (DIG).
“On that day, I led the Jum’a prayer at Banglabazar mosque and learned that some worshippers had gathered at the Baitul Mukarram,” Mamunul said.
“I went there at the request of a DIG and delivered a speech. I didn’t do anything wrong. We won’t go anywhere in the future at the request of police,” he added.
The state counsel said Mamunul can’t issue such statement but the court permitted him to continue.
Mamunul said the court could check his mobile call records to verify his claim.
His lawyer said incorrect information about him was mentioned in the case filed at Paltan Police Station.
Also read: Mamunul placed on 7-day fresh remand
Later, Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Sadbir Yasir Ahsan Chowdhury placed Mamunul on seven-day remand in two cases.
Inspector Moniruzzaman sought the court’s permission to show the Hefazat leader arrested in a 2013 case filed at Motijheel Police Station and 10 days to interrogate him. On the other hand, Inspector Kamrul Islam sought the court’s permission to show Mamunul arrested in a case filed with Paltan police over the March 26 violence at Baitul Mukarram.
The court also heard the bail plea of the Hefazat leader who was produced before the court after the completion of his seven-day remand in a vandalism case filed with Mohammadpur police in 2020.
After hearing, the court granted police four days to interrogate Mamunul in the Paltan case and three days in the Motijheel case.
On April 18 this year, a joint team of Tejgaon Division police and DMP's Detective Branch arrested Mamunul from Jamia Rahmania Arabia Madrasah in Mohammadpur.
Also read: Mamunul controversy: Jharna's father now in police custody
Mamunul, who has been in the limelight due to some recent controversies, was held with a woman he claimed to be his second wife from a resort in Sonargaon on April 3.
Later, Hefazat leaders claimed that Mamunul went to the resort with his “second wife” where locals confined and harassed him before calling in the police.
Hathazari violence: Over 3000 accused in 3 cases, including Babunagari
Police have filed three cases accusing 148 people including Hefazat-e-Islam amir Allama Junaid Babungari, BNP leader Mir Helal and upazila Jamaat amir in connection to the sabotage and violence in Chattogram's Hathazari.
In addition, 3000 unidentified persons have been accused in these cases.
The cases were filed at Hathazari Police Station on Thursday (April 22) in connection with vandalism, arson and road blockade on March 26 and 27.
Police informed this to the media on Monday.
Also read: Brahmanbaria mayhem: Hefazat leader among 10 arrested
Hathazari Police Station inspector Touhidul Karim said, "Three cases have been filed in connection with the March 26 and 27 violence."
All the documents of the case have been sent to the court, legal action is being taken against the accused, he added.
Chattogram District Special Branch (DSB) constable Solomon, Hathazari police inspector Amir Hossain and SI Harunur Rashid filed the cases.
According to the statement of the cases, the strike called by Hefazat-e-Islam caused unrest in Hathazari Sadar and Ichapur Bazar by setting fire to cars and setting walls in the streets.
On March 26-27, the accused attacked the police, vandalized police stations and land offices and set those on fire.
Also read: Hefazat forms five-member convening committee
Junaid Babunagari has been accused in two cases and BNP executive committee member Mir Helal Uddin in another.
According to local administration, the students of Hathazari Madrasa carried out infernal violence for two days, on March 26 and March 27.
They set fire to the car of the Assistant Commissioner (Land) of Hathazari that worth Tk. 55 lac. All documents from the AC land office were burned.
All the furniture was destroyed.
Government rest houses and three motorcycles were set on fire.
Also read: BNP-Jamaat behind recent Hefazat violence: Minister
The physical infrastructural damage of Tk. 70 lac was caused during the attack in upazila land office.
Hefazat central committee dissolved
Embattled Hefazat-e-Islam chief Junayed Babunagari has announced the dissolution of the organisation's central committee.
Speaking in a video message from Chattogram's Hathazari Madrasa, Hefazat's spiritual headquarters, Babunagari said: "Considering the overall situation of the country, the central committee has been dissolved following the advice of some of its key members."
The video was posted on Babunagari's (unverified ) Facebook page around 11pm on Sunday night. It quickly spread through various pages affiliated with the conservative Islamic movement, and has met with no objection.
However, the Hefazat amir said the organisation would again be active through an interim committee convened for the purpose.
The short video message lasted less than 90 seconds, and Babunagari, who rose to the post following the death of long-time leader Allema Ahmed Shafi last September, could be heard being prompted by someone off camera throughout.
Nineteen top Hefazat leaders have been arrested so far over the protests and violence orchestrated by the organisation's supporters and activists across the country against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bangladesh visit.
At least 77 cases have been filed against Hefazat leaders and activists from across the country over clashes and vandalism. More than 69,000 people have been accused in the incidents.
Babungari has announced the dissolution of the Qawmi madrasa-based organisation's central committee when its leaders, activists and supporters are being arrested in different places of the country including Dhaka every day.
Earlier in the day, the government-recognised board Al-Hayatul Ulaya Lil-Jami'atil Qawmia said students and teachers of Qawmi madrasas will remain out of political activities.
The board under which students sit for Dawra-e-Hadith – Qawmi madrasas' highest level of the exam – made the decision at a meeting in the capital's Jatrabari.
On April 19, Babungari asked for the unconditional release of all "Ulema-Mashaikh" and Hefazat leaders, including the party's Joint Secretary General Mamunul Haque and Organising Secretary Azizul Haque Islamabadi in another video message.
The Hefazat chief said they had no programme either at Hathazari or at Brahmanbaria against Modi's visit on March 26.
Although there is no proof that Hefazat has any links to political parties, the organisation's leaders; students and Islamic scholars are being arrested indiscriminately, Babunagari said.
"What kind of oppression is this? A country cannot be run in this way," he added.
"Hefazat does not bring any political party to power or force anyone to step down. We aim to establish the agenda of Muhammad (PBUH)," he said.
Although Hefazat emerged as a non-political organisation in 2010, it turned into a political one after the death of Ahmad Shafi. Gradually, leaders of different political parties joined the Hefazat committee.
People involved with Hefazat violence to be punished: Home Minister
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal on Sunday said that despite talks with the leaders of Hefazat-e-Islam, people who were involved in violence will be brought to book.
He came up with the remarks at a function organised by Dhaka North City Awami League at Rajdhani School premises.
The Home Minister said that people are being arrested after analysing video footages of Hefazat's violence that spread across districts.
Also read: BNP-Jamaat behind recent Hefazat violence: Minister
Despite discussions with the group, those who participated in the violence will be punished, he added.
The minister said that those who are involved in arson, vandaliism, and caused lives to be lost must be punished.
Also read: BNP involved in Hefazat violence: Obaidul Quader
He said the law enforcement is not making any mass arrests or harassing anyone said.
The Home Minister said Hefazat is a non-political group and there is no provision of doing politics on its policies. Although many disagree with it, he said.
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.
BNP-Jamaat behind recent Hefazat violence: Minister
Information Minister Hasan Mahmud on Saturday said the arrested Hefazat leaders recognised the involvement of BNP-Jamaat alliance in the violence carried out in the country last month.
"You’ve seen that the Economic Times of India and some local newspapers have reported on how BNP-Jamaat alliance actively participated in the violence and funded the miscreants…Pakistani intelligence also helped them,” he said.
Also read: Govt has link with Hefazat, alleges BNP
Hasan Mahmud came up with the remarks while talking to reporters after inaugurating a food distribution programme in his hometown Rangunia via online.
He said the recent violence were not isolated events, as those were part of a bigger plan by the BNP-Jamaat alliance to grab power by ousting the government.
Also read: BNP involved in Hefazat violence: Obaidul Quader
"No one involved with the incident will be spared," he warned.
Hefazat leader Abul Hussain remanded
A Faridpur court on Friday sent vice-president of Faridpur district Hefazat-e-Islam Md. Abul Hussain on a 7-day remand.
The court passed the order when Bhanga Police Station sub-inspector Bikash Mandal placed Abul Hussain before the Faridpur Chief Judicial Magistrate's Court seeking a 10-day remand.
Abul Hussain was arrested in the early hours of Friday.
He was accused in a case filed in connection with the attack on Bhanga police station.
On March 27, activists and supporters of Hefazat-e-Islam attacked the Bhanga police station and vandalized the main gate.
Ten people including two policemen were injured in the attack.
Injured sub-Inspector of Bhanga Police Station Shahidullah filed a case accusing 300 unidentified people.
So far 19 people including Abul Hussain have been arrested.