12 more held over Hefazat mayhem in Brahmanbaria

Another 12 people have been arrested in the past 24 hours in connection with the clashes and vandalism by supporters of Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh in Brahmanbaria last month, police said Monday.

No significant Hefazat leaders were named among the people who were arrested between Sunday morning and Monday morning.

However, police did not name any of the arrestees.

The arrests were made from different parts of the district after identifying the accused from the video footage and images taken during the violence, the district police said in a press release.

The number of arrests in 55 cases filed for causing the mayhem now stands at 310 people.

On 27 March, at least five people were killed and around 50 others, including 25 cops, injured in clashes between members of law enforcement agencies and locals during Hefazat's demonstrations at Nandanpur in Sadar upazila.

They had staged the protests against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Bangladesh.

The next day, during Hefazat's countrywide dawn-to-dusk hartal protesting police action on their anti-Modi processions in Dhaka, Chattogram, and other districts, activists set fire to three buildings, including the land office in Brahmanbaria Sadar upazila.

They had also attacked a Chattogram-bound train at Talshohor Rail Station in Brahmanbaria town.

Besides, the Hefazat supporters also vandalised several private and government establishments, including the Zila Parishad building, municipality building, Police Lines, Industrial School, land office, Alauddin Music Academy, and Foirtala Bus Stand in Sadar upazila.

So far, 49 cases have been filed with Brahmanbaria Sadar Model Police Station, four with Ashuganj Police Station and two with Sarail Police Station in connection with the violent protest. There are 414 named accused in these cases and more than 35,000 unnamed accused.