Hefazat wants compromise; Government in hardline
Highlights-
- Top Hefazat leaders met home minister
- Meeting held between Hefazat and Police
- Government gives 3 conditions to Hefazat
- Hefazat's committee might have to be changed
- A follower of Allama Shah Ahmad Shafi working on forming new committee
After the arrest of nine of its central leaders including Mamunul Haque, Hefazat–e–Islam, that launched a tough movement protesting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Dhaka last month, now wants to compromise with the government.
However, the government is in the hardline about the group for their recent anti-government activities, according to top police officials and Hefazat leaders.
Meanwhile, top Hefazat leaders met with Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal to tackle the current situation. They demanded that their senior leaders not be arrested while the home minister said police are not arresting any innocent person. Law enforcers have been arresting them who were involved in mayhem.
According to the sources present in the meeting, senior leaders of the Hefazat want to compromise with the government through the home minister. However, the minister replied that he could not make any promise.
After meeting the home minister, Hefazat leaders returned without any assurance.
On the other hand, top leaders of Hefazat also met with the senior officials of the police's special branch (SB). Hefazat leaders even 'admitted their mistakes' for the recent anti-government activities. But they claimed innocence in regard of the mayhem created in Bahmanbaria and Hathazari, sources confirmed TBS.
Senior police officials said Hefazat was formed in 2010 as a non-political organisation. But after Shah Ahmad Shafi's death, Hefazat turned into a political party. Many political leaders from various political parties joined the organization and even became members in Hefazat's different committees, finally starting a movement politically.
On anonymity, a top police official said they have already prepared a list of Hefazat leaders who joined the organisation coming from different political parties.
He said a secret meeting of Hefazat leaders has been held after Mamunul's resort scandal. At the meeting, Mamunul admitted that it was his mistake. He admitted that he did not inform his family members about his second and third marriages.
Meanwhile, sources said Tejgaon division police interrogated Mamunul Haque on the first day of a 7-day remand on Tuesday. He revealed many things during interrogation. Sources, however, did not agree to disclose about what he said.
Barrister Mahbubur Rahman, additional inspector general and chief of CID said they have found Mamunul's involvement in Narayanganj incident during our primary investigation.
Meanwhile, Road Transport and Bridges Minister and Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader on Tuesday said none was arrested because of their affiliation with certain parties or their identities as 'Alem-Ulama'.