Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh on Thursday threatened to enforce a nonstop hartal from Sunday if the 24-hour shutdown called by 25 pro-liberation bodies is not called off by Thursday evening.
“A nonstop hartal will be enforced on April 7 (Sunday) if the shutdown called by the government through different parties and organisations backed by it and its inconsiderate decision not to let buses be hired are not withdrawn by 6pm today,” ameer of Hefazat-e-Islam Shaha Ahmed Shafi said in a statement.
Junayed Banu Nagri, general secretary of the Islamist party, read out the statement of the party chief at a press conference at its Lalbagh city unit office.
Twenty-five pro-liberation orgnisations on Thursday morning called a countrywide 24-hour hartal from 6 pm Friday apparently to resist Hefazat-e-Islam’s long march and demanding a ban on Jamaat-Shibir politics.
Meanwhile, Sector Commanders’ Forum, 10 left-leaning parties and several other organisations extended their support to the shutdown.
In the written statement, Shah Ahmed Shafi alleged that the government is making an evil attempt to foil their April 6 long march. “Transport associations have been directed not to let their buses be hired to Hefazat-e-Islam…the administration hasn’t yet given permission for holding the rally of the long march participants.”
He also said the Planning Minister and some pro-government agents and organisations at the behest of the government have taken an imprudent decision to enforce hartal on weekly holidays on Friday and Saturday.
“The Islamic Foundation has called a rally for April 6 at the government-controlled mosques and madrasahs as part of a conspiracy to foil the long march programme,” the Hefazat ameer said, adding, “Our nonstop hartal will continue from April 7 if the shutdown called by the pro-government organisations is not withdrawn as we have no scope to backtrack on it.”
He claimed that their constitutional, nonviolent is not to oust anyone from power or bring anyone to power. “Our movement is not to implement agenda of anyone but to perform the duties bestowed on us by Allah, his Rasul (Prophet) and Islam.”
Urging the government to accept their demands, Shah Ahmed Shafi said the government would be held responsible if any terrible situation arises.
Shah Ahmed Shafi urged the devout Muslims to gather at Shapla Chattar in the capital by 10 am on Saturday.
He also urged the law enforcers to extend their all-out cooperation to the long march.
The Hefazat-e-Islam called the long march programme towards Dhaka to press home its 13-point demand, including the arrest and trial of bloggers who defamed Islam and Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).
Meanwhile, the Hefazat-e-Islam leaders at a press briefing at Chittagong Press Club on Thursday threatened to besiege entire Bangladesh if police harassment of their men is not stopped and their scheduled long march is obstructed.
They also said police are detaining the Hefazat-e-Islam men in the name of maintaining the law and order ahead of the April 6 long march programme.
At a time, police are threatening the vehicle owners not to rent any vehicles, the leaders said.
Central organising secretary of Hefazat-e-Islam Azizul Haque Islamabadi said they will start their journey for Dhaka from Jamiatul Falah Mosque after Jum’a prayers on Friday.
At least 5 lakh people will go to Dhaka and many of them have already reached the capital for making their programme a success, he said.
The leaders also threatened to announce a nonstop hartal if the hartal called by the pro-government organisations is not withdrawn.
Source: UNB Connect
