The government will not allow the Hefazat-e-Islam, an Islamic outfit, to hold a rally at Shapla Chattar in the city, state minister for law, justice and parliamentary affairs Quamrul Islam said on Sunday. “We’ve heard that the Hefazat is planning to hold a rally in the city on December 24. But we want to tell them that they won’t be allowed to create anarchy in the country anymore in the name of a rally,” he iterated. The minister’s comment coincided with Hefazat’s statement to the media that the outfit will go ahead with its proposed programme on December 24. The rally was called to mount pressure on the government to meet the outfit’s 13-point charter of demands, including stern action against those making blasphemous comments on Hazrat Mohammad.
Quamrul also accused the opposition BNP of plotting to destabilise the country ahead of the January 5 election by instigating the Hefazat to hit the streets. “But their evil attempt will not succeed ultimately,” the minister told a meeting of 14-Party Alliance leaders.
The meeting of the ruling alliance decided to hold a rally in the city on December 24, in protest against the Pakistani parliament’s resolution on the execution of Jamaat leader Abdul Quader Mollah and BNP-Jamaat’s “sponsored anarchy” in the past two weeks.
Issuing a note of warning, Quamrul said, “Be careful… you (BNP-Jamaat-Hefazat) are playing with fire. Its consequence will not be good.”
The Awami League leader also urged party leaders and activists as well as the countrymen to forge a resistance against the trio’s “politics of violence”. “Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is following the right path and we should extend all-out cooperation to her,” he added.
Criticising Pakistan‘s resolution on Mollah’s execution, the minister said passing resolution against the verdict delivered by a country’s judiciary system is against international diplomatic norms.
In a separate meeting, environment and forest minister Hasan Mahmud alleged that BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia was working as a Pakistani agent to make Bangladesh a failed state.
The minister alleged that Khaleda has “close relations” with the Paksitani army and “so it is obvious that she would make comments against our Army”. He also urged the opposition leader to refrain from embarrassing the Army by her controversial comments.
Mahmud said the Armed forces have already started to discharge their duties in the different places across the country in order to save lives and wealth of the people. At the same time, he called upon the people to resist the BNP-Jamaat’s alleged attempt to destabilise the country.
The minister was addressing a meeting organised by Bangabandhu Academy at the Gulistan Zero point in the city.
-With The Independent input
