Hefazat demands death penalty of Bhola youth for blasphemy

The Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh has said it will continue protest until their six-point charter of demands is met. The demands include death sentence for the youth accused in blasphemy that incited deadly violence in Bhola on Sunday.

Allama Junaid Babunagari, secretary general of Hefazat — an Islamist advocacy group of madrasa teachers in Bangladesh — announced the ultimatum after a protest march and rally in Chattogram on Tuesday.

Junaid Babunagari said, "Police could lob tear shells and rubber bullets for self-defence. But they opened fire on the protesting Muslims."

"We are demanding a judicial inquiry and suspension of those police men who opened fire," said Babunagari, adding their demonstration will continue until their demands are met.

The demands include — death penalty for the youth Biplab Chandra, ensuring highest punishment of the police personnel who carried out attack on Muslims, compensating the families of the deceased, bearing the medical expenses of the injured by the government, release of those detained in Bhola unlawfully and realising their original 13-point charter of demands of the Hefazat.

Hefazat surfaced in 2013 with their 13-point charter which included the demand for the enactment of a blasphemy law.                      

Hefazat leaders, including Organising Secretary Ajijul Haque Islamabadi and another central leader Nasir Uddin Munir, were present among others.  

The group on Monday announced a countrywide demonstration over the death of four people during a clash with police in Bhola on Sunday.

More than 200 people were also injured in the clash in Borhanuddin upazila.

Police in a statement said Biplab Chandra, accused of blasphemy, filed a general diary with the Borhanuddin Police Station on Friday after his Facebook account was hacked.

Police said some comments made on Facebook by using Biplab's Facebook account angered religious people in the area.