Bhola clash: Hefazat issues ultimatum demanding punishment of involved police officials

Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh has demanded arrest and punishment of the police officials who were involved in Sunday's clash in which four people were killed in Bhola's Borhanuddin Upazila. 

In a press briefing at Chattogram's Hathazari Darul Ulum Moinul Islam Madrasa office, Hefazat Secretary General Junaid Babunagari announced that they will hold protest rallies and processions in all districts and upazilas of the country on Tuesday.

Junaid Babunagari said, "Police opened fire on a peaceful procession of local people who were protesting a derogatory remark on the Prophet (SM), leaving four dead and scores injured."

"We demand investigation of the incident and punishment of police officials who were involved, compensation to the families of the deceased, bearing the cost of treatment of the injured, and cancelling cases," he added.

The Hefazat leader also demanded the highest punishment for Biplab Chandra, who allegedly posted a comment on Facebook which hurt religious sentiment.

"Our probe committee found that Biplab's account was not hacked. The heinous comment was shared from his account. Such an incident would not have happened if the government had met our 13-point demand," the Hefazat leader said.

On Sunday, four people were killed and hundreds injured in Bhola's Borhanuddin upazila in clashes between police and local people. The local people were demonstrating for punishment of a youth who, they claimed, had hurt their religious sentiment in a Facebook post.