In a press briefing, the police claimed that although the “gathering and anarchy” at Motijheel and Shapla Chattar area on May 5 took place under Hefazat-e-Islam’s banner, these had actually been controlled by seven Islamist organisations and had been instigated by a major political party. Acting inspector general of police (IGP) AKM Shahidul Hoque stated this view at a briefing held at the police headquarters on Thursday morning, citing that the involvement of the organisations had been revealed though an “investigation”.
The acting IGP also said the police have identified those organisations: Islami Oikkojote, Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh, Muslim League, Nezam-e-Islam (Latif), Nezam-e-Islami (Izharul Islam), Khelafat-e-Islam and Khelafat-e-Mazlish.
Indicating the involvement of the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Shahidul Hoque said: “A major party also played a role in inciting and instigating the incident.”
He also warned that strong legal action would be taken against those who have propagated lies about the incident.
Regarding the human rights watchdog Odhikar, which has allegedly prepared a distorted report on the Hefazat crackdown, the acting IGP said, “The police will not take any action against the rights body Odhikar as an organisation for publishing a distorted report and photoshopped images on the May 5 police action on a Hefazat-e Islam rally.”
“It is up to the NGO Affairs Bureau to consider whether it would take any step,” Shahidul Haque added.
Hoque almost echoed the findings on the Odhikar report as had been mentioned by Monirul Islam, joint commissioner of the Detective Branch of the police, during a briefing at a conference earlier on Wednesday.
According to the law enforcement officials, 11 people were killed in clashes between police and Hefazat activists in the capital on May 5.
-With The Independent input
