Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh (HIB) has postponed its grand rally at Shapla Square in the city, scheduled for Tuesday, as it failed to get permission from the authorities.
“Even though we made all preparations for a peaceful rally, we could not hold it as the government did not permit it,” said HIB nayeb-e-ameer and Dhaka city convenor Maulana Noor Hossain Kashemi. He was addressing a press conference at Baridhara Jamia Madania Madrasha on Monday. Protesting the government’s move, he said: “I am leaving it to the people to judge. Hefazat ameer Allama Ahmad Shafi will soon announce stronger steps to protest the government action.”
The HIB leader said the application for holding the rally was submitted to the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) on November 30, but the DMP officials said the HIB would not be permitted to hold the rally.
He also alleged that law enforcement personnel prevented HIB ameer Allama Shafi Ahmad and secretary general Mualana Zonayed Babunagori from coming to Dhaka when they started from Hathazari Madrasha around 10am.
HIB leaders Maulana Abdur Rab Yusufi, Maulana Jafrullah Khan, Maulana Jonayed Al Habib, Maulana Abul Kalam, Abdul Khaleque, Mahfuzul Haque and Tayeb Hossain, among others, were present at the press conference.
The HIB central leaders will hold a meeting with Dhaka city HIB leaders at Hathazari Madrasha to discuss the latest development, strategies and the next course of action, source said.
HIB leader Maulana Azizul Haque told reporters that stronger action would be taken to protest against the government’s move.
On November 24, the HIB announced the Shapla Square rally during a press briefing at Al-Jamiatul Alia Darul Ulum Moinul Islam Madrasah at Hathazari in Chittagong.
Earlier, the HIB had planned to hold a grand rally at Shapla Square on November 15, but the programme was postponed as it coincided with the holy Ashura and the three-day ‘Jor‘ Ijtema, a preparatory event of the two-phase Biswa Ijtema of Tablig-e-Jamaat.
On May 6, law enforcement personnel drove out the HIB supporters from a sit-in demonstration at Shapla Square when they tried to stay overnight, ignoring the government’s appeal to vacate the place.
The government action, however, drew sharp criticism.
Kashemi blamed the government for the current political stalemate and called upon both the government and the Opposition to resolve the impasse through talks. He warned that the HIB would not sit idle if the deadlock continued.
He also demanded immediate release of HIB leaders, including Mufti Ijhar and Mufti Wakkas.
-With The Independent input
