B’baria mayhem: 50 cases filed, 168 arrested

Police have arrested 60 people in connection with the violence in Brahmanbaria last month, during a state visit by the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a special operation from Monday night to Tuesday morning.

Also, as many as 50 cases have been filed for the mayhem during a protest by activists and supporters of Hefazat-e-Islam opposing Modi's visit. Meanwhile, in a separate development, Maulana Abdullah Mohammad Hasan has resigned from the post of Hefazat-e-Islam's nayeb-e-ameer.

Police said the newly arrested include activists and supporters of Hefazat-e-Islam, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), and Jamaat-e-Islam.

"In a special 24 hour police operation, 60 people have been arrested. Among them, there are 16 high-profile activists and supporters of BNP, Jamaat, and Hefazat," said, Md Raich Uddin, Brahmanbaria additional superintendent (Crime and Administration) of Police.

According to him, police have started identifying the accused in the violence by reviewing stills and video footage.

So far, police has arrested 168 people in these cases, with 128 from Hefajat, 37 from BNP, and three from Jamaat.

Of the 50 cases, 45 have been filed with Sadar Model Police Station, three with Ashuganj, and two with Sarail Police Station in connection with the violence in Brahmanbaria in the last week of March.

Over 35,000 people have been accused in these cases, with only 288 people named in police case statements, while the rest remain unidentified.

The statement also said various police units have been conducting raids to arrest the accused.

Maulana Abdullah resigns as Nayeb-e-Ameer of Hefazat

Maulana Abdullah Mohammad Hasan, president of the Bangladesh Faraji Movement, has resigned as nayeb-e-ameer of Hefajat-e-Islam citing various reasons, including the outfit being used by some for personal gain.

He made the announcement at a press conference organised by the Bangladesh Faraji Movement at the National Press Club on Tuesday.

Maulana Hasan said there has been a crisis of qualified leadership in Hefazat-e-Islam after the death of its founder, Allama Shah Ahmad Shafi.

"Factions have formed in the group," he said.

He alleged people of different parties and ideologies have infiltrated Hefazat and they are trying to bring the Islamic outfit to the forefront in order to achieve their political interests.

"Thanks to this [conspiracy], they have been able to take control of Hefazat-e-Islam."

"It is the people of those controversial outside organisations who have ignored the majority opinion of the leaders of Hefazat-e-Islam and forced them to go on strike," he continued.

According to him, Hefazat has become a platform for some individuals to implement their own agenda. Due to these reasons, he has resigned as the Islamic outfit's nayeb-e-ameer.

Earlier, on 31 March, Maulana Abdul Awal, central nayeb-e-ameer of Hefazat and chief of its Narayanganj unit, announced his resignation, but withdrew only a day after.