Junaid Babu Nagari, secretary general of the Hefazat-e-Islami Bangladesh (HIB), on Wednesday said the violence that took place during its Sunday “Dhaka Siege Programme” was carried out by Jamaat-Shibir activists. Several police officials told The Independent that Nagri, now in police remand, during interrogation said that HIB leaders had no control over the situation at one stage and that some leaders of the BNP-led 18-party alliance started dictating the HIB leaders after the rally had started.
Nagri told the police that Maulana Anas Madani, son of HIB chief Allama Ahemd Shafi, had given all directives in the absence of Allama Shafi, keeping the Hefazat leaders in the dark.
Leaders of the 18-party alliance were maintaining constant contacts with Madani, said police officials, having quoted Nagri.
During the remand, Nagri also told the police that a large chunk of the fund for organising the rally was provided by some supporters of the 18-party alliance. He also said that most of the participants had come from outside Dhaka.
“They did not even have any knowledge about the venue of the rally. Some pro-active Jamaat-Shibir activists took part in the clash against law enforcers outside the rally area,” he added.
Nagri was arrested on Monday and was placed in nine days’ remand by the court on Tuesday.
A total of 16 cases were filed in Motijheel, Paltan and Ramna police stations on Sunday night.
Hefazat secretary general Junaid Babu Nagari is the prime accused in all these cases. He was arrested from Dhakeshwary of Lalbagh on Monday night.
At least 37 were killed and hundreds injured in clashes between security forces and members of HIB on Sunday and Monday.
Courtesy of The Independent
