Radical Islamist outfit Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh ameer Allama Shah Ahmed Shafi was reportedly forced out to Chittagong from Dhaka city by air on Monday afternoon. He reached Chittagong Shah Amanat International Airport at 7:40 pm by a flight of Regent Airways. Allama Shafi was taken to Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport by DB police and was scheduled to leave Dhaka at 3:30 pm. But due to bad weather condition the flight was delayed. The Hefazat chief was accompanied by his son Anas Madani and assistant Shafiqul Islam during his departure from Dhaka to Chittagong.
Security was beefed up at Chittagong Shah Amanat International Airport to mark the arrival of Hefazat chief from Dhaka.
According to police earlier in the morning the Islamist leader was given two options either to be arrested or to leave the capital; the Hefajat Ameer chose the second one and decided to leave Dhaka by air.
A high official of Lalbagh Zone on condition of anonymity told The Independent, “Soon after his decision the Hefajat chief was taken on a red microbus at around 3:15 pm after a three-hour negotiation between the Detectives Branch police and the party leaders at Zamiatul Arabia Madrasa, which is known as the central office of the Qawmi madrasa-based Islamist group agreed to come out.”
“His son, Anas Madani, and party spokesman Shafiqul Islam are accompanying him to the airport, from where he is scheduled to fly to Chittagong,” the official added.
He also said they did not arrest Maulana Shah Ahmed Shafi, but he was taken to the airport to go to Chittagong.
Earlier, law enforcing agencies cordoned off the head office of radical Islamists group Hefajat-e-Islami at Lalbagh area in the capital. Huge contingent of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) were seen around the premises since Monday morning.
Ahmad Shafi was staying there since Sunday when violence erupted during the Hifazat’s Dhaka siege, police officials said.
-With The Independent input
