Brahmanbaria Hefazat leader resigns

Hefazat-e-Islam Brahmanbaria District Committee Joint General Secretary Mufti Abdur Rahim Qasemi has resigned seeking justice for those involved in the violence carried out by Hefazat-e-Islam activists in Brahmanbaria on March.

Qasemi, who is also a member of the central committee, sent a written statement to journalists on Friday to clarify his position.

"The loss of life and property of the people cannot be approved by Islam in any way. So I personally stayed away from all these activities and forced the teachers and students of all the madrasas under my supervision not to take part in those," his statement said.

He claimed that neither he nor any student of madrasas under him participated in the vandalism and arson that took place during the strike.

"I am not involved in any of the ongoing activities of Hefazat-e-Islam. I am officially resigning from all the activities of Hefazat and from the posts of national and district committees," he added.

Qasemi also urged the government to identify and bring to justice those who incited the violence.

On 27 March, at least five people were killed and around 50 others, including 25 cops, injured in clashes between members of law enforcement agencies and locals during Hefazat's demonstrations at Nandanpur in Sadar upazila.

They had staged the protests against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Bangladesh.

The next day, during Hefazat's countrywide dawn-to-dusk hartal protesting police action on their anti-Modi processions in Dhaka, Chattogram, and other districts, activists set fire to three buildings, including the land office in Brahmanbaria Sadar upazila.

They had also attacked a Chattogram-bound train at Talshohor Rail Station in Brahmanbaria town.

Besides, the Hefazat supporters also vandalised several private and government establishments, including the Zila Parishad building, municipality building, Police Lines, Industrial School, land office, Alauddin Music Academy, and Foirtala Bus Stand in Sadar upazila.

So far, 49 cases have been filed with Brahmanbaria Sadar Model Police Station, four with Ashuganj Police Station and two with Sarail Police Station in connection with the violent protest. There are 414 named accused in these cases and more than 35,000 unnamed accused.