The glimpse of movement after Eid is custody
After Eid, Hefazet Islam will take the field with a strict program to demand the release of imprisoned activists and scholars. Indicating this, several leaders of the party said, release the leaders and activists who have been detained without trial for a long time before Eid, and give them an opportunity to share joy with their families. Otherwise, the Tawhidi people of the country will not sit quietly in mosques, madrasas and homes. Meanwhile, in this situation, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal is going to Hathajari Madrasa, which is known as the stronghold of custody. According to sources, he will have iftar and private meeting with senior leaders of Hefazat.
The last meeting of Hefazat leaders with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was on December 17 last year. At that time, a delegation of 11 people including the Secretary General of the organization met the Prime Minister and made three demands. Two of these were the release of detained activists and the withdrawal of all cases. Hefazat claims that the Prime Minister assured to meet the demands quickly. Hefazat leader Azizul Haque Islamabadi was released the day after the meeting. The organization considered this incident as a 'benefit of the meeting'. Later, several people including the security guard Ziaur Rahman Farooqui were released. Recently, the court granted bail to the 'child speaker' Maulana Rafiqul Islam Madani and Hefazat leader Mufti Azhar Uddin. These two can be released soon after the legal process.
It is known that Maulana Azizul Haque Islamabadi, the former organizing secretary of the organization, was number one in the list of leaders detained in jail in the meeting. Then the names of Mufti Monir Hossain Kasemi, Mufti Sakhawat Hossain Razi, Mufti Mahmudul Hasan Gunbi, Maulana Mamunul Haque and Mufti Harun Izhar. However, Azizul Islamabadi was released within 24 hours of the meeting, while others are still in prison. A court in Chittagong also canceled Harun Izahar's bail in a case of anti-terrorism law after he was accused of violating the order of the High Court. Azizul Haque was the Central Organizing Secretary and Spokesperson of Hefazat Islam led by late Islamists Ahmad Shafi and Junaid Babunagari. There were 13 cases against him. He got bail in each case. Hefazat's former education and culture secretary Harun Izhar is the son of much talked about Mufti Izharul Islam. Mufti Izhar is the founder of Lalkhanbazar Jamiatul Uloom Al-Islamia Madrasa in Chittagong. Both the father and son have been accused of militant activities.
Hefazat leaders said that regarding the first two demands, the Prime Minister immediately asked Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, who was present in the meeting, to take action. And Hefazat asked the leaders to keep in touch with the minister regarding the case.
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal is going to Hathazari today, a day after the party's harsh statement in the media last Tuesday, demanding the release of imprisoned leaders before Eid. He will break the fast today at Hathazari Madrasah, known as the base of Hefazat. Maulana Mir Muhammad Idris, organizational secretary of the party, confirmed the matter yesterday.
Meanwhile, even after four months of the meeting with the Prime Minister, Hefazat is fuming with anger as the demands have not been fully met. The organization has sought the release of imprisoned activists and scholars before Eid. They especially demanded the release of Mufti Monir Hossain Kasemi, Mufti Sakhawat Hossain Razi, Mufti Mahmudul Hasan Gunbi, Maulana Mamunul Haque, Mufti Harun Izhar etc.
Addressing the government, the Secretary General of Hefazat Sheikh Sajedur Rahman told Kalbela, Ramadan is the month of piety and fear Allah. Do not trouble the imprisoned clerics. Release everyone before Eid. If they are free you are also free. If the demands are not met, the Defense Secretary General said, "Don't force us to give the program." If the Tawhidi crowd enters the field, the situation will be complicated.
Drawing the attention of human rights organizations, Amir of custody Allama Shah Muhibbullah Babunagari said that detention without trial is extrajudicial punishment. A crime is committed by any individual, group, force or government.
Allama Muhammad Yahya, director general of Hathazari madrasa, senior Naib Amir of Hefazat, indicating the program after Eid, said that ordinary people are not able to eat their stomach with the sky-high prices of everyday products! On the other hand, anger-dissatisfaction has settled in the political arena. The situation is becoming unstable day by day. In this situation, it will be difficult to keep the country's Islam-loving Tawhidi people calm.
However, Maulana Muhyuddin Rabbani, Central Joint Secretary General of Hefazat Islam, still wholeheartedly believes that the Prime Minister's assurance will be fulfilled. He said, "We are impressed with the Prime Minister's sincerity. I think he understood the matter of fulfilling the demands from his heart. He was the one who brought the issue of release of leaders and activists and Ulema-Ulamas to the attention of the Prime Minister and said that he is waiting for the release of the rest of the leaders. I hope the Prime Minister will not despair so that the situation of agitation is created.
Incidentally, Hefazat got involved in conflict in several places of the country including Hathazari, Dhaka and Brahmanbaria of Chittagong by calling to prevent the visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Bangladesh on the golden jubilee of independence on March 26, 2021. There are several cases in these incidents. The organization alleged that hundreds of activists and clerics were arrested nationwide.
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