“Our honorable Prime Minister has been sending envoys to Hefazat-e-Islam for saving Islam and herself,” he said at a roundtable at the Jatiya Press Club.
The roundtable was organised by `Santrash Nirmul Toki Mancha’, named after Tanvir Mohammad Toki, who was killed last month.
Toki, 17, son of Rafiur Rabbi, convener of Narayanganj Ganajagaran Mancha, was recovered by police from the bank of the Shitalakkhya River two days after he had gone missing on March 8.
Narayanganj City Corporation Mayor Dr Selina Hayat Ivy, Toki’s father Rafiur Rabbi, Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon, Communist Party of Bangladesh president Mujahidul Islam Selim, Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal general secretary Khalequzzaman, Nagorik Oikya convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna, Jahangirnagar University Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Anwar Hossain, noted economists MM Akash and Prof Anu Mohammad also spoke at the roundtable.
Taking part in the discussion, Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon accused the Hefazat-e-Islam of taking the responsibility of saving the war criminals and Jamaat-e-Islami.
He said: “If we don’t take a proper stand on April 6 (day of Hefazat-e-Islam’s `Long March’ to Dhaka’), the next day we may land in the dark.”
Menon, an ally of the Awami League-led Grand Alliance, also slammed the government for arresting the bloggers for what he said satisfying Hefazat-e-Islam. “There is no scope for compromise with them,” he said.
Narayanganj City Mayor Selina Hayat Ivy alleged that the defeated forces who didn’t accept the people’s verdict on October 30 last year in the mayoral election, have killed people one after another in Narayanganj.
“If any more attack or killing takes place by the defeated force there (in Narayanganj), of course, we will face it along with people,” she said.
Toki’s father Rafiur Rabbi said the Prime Minister will have to decide whether she will protect the people’s interest or take the side of the terrorists.
The speakers at the roundtable said they want immediate trial of those who were involved in the murder of Toki and would not accept any steps in the matter out of political consideration.