No Hefazat man as 3,200 unnamed accused over Chattogram violence

Some 3,200 unnamed people have been accused in seven cases, filed after five days of Hefazat mayhem in Chattogram's Hathazari and Patiya, but no Hefazat leaders or activists were mentioned in any of the cases.

The Islamist group's top leaders are believed to have instigated their supporters for vandalism, attacks, and arson during the three-day violent protests, but only some petty local leaders and supporters have been named in a few cases filed in Chattogram, Brahmanbaria, Narayanganj and Dhaka.

At least 14 people were killed and hundreds injured, and government and private properties were damaged as the Hefazat men locked into sporadic clashes with law enforcement agencies from Friday to Sunday in the districts during their protests and hartal over Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bangladesh visit.

"The cases were filed on Tuesday night with Hathazari Police Station," Additional Superintendent of Police (Hathazari Circle) Moshiudoula Reza told The Business Standard today.

According to police sources, Nazir Ekramul Haque Sikder of the Assistant Commissioner (Land) office and Akhter Kamal Chowdhury, Assistant Land Officer of the Sadar Union Land Office filed two of the cases. 

Besides, police have filed four separate cases alleging attack on Hathazari police station, obstructing police duties, beating of policemen and arson attack. 

However, the statement of the case did not mention the amount of damage caused by the violence.

Another case was filed with Patiya police station on Tuesday night against 700 to 800 people over the Hefazat mayhem case.

Additional Superintendent of Police (Patiya Circle) Tariq Rahman confirmed it.

Students of Patiya Madrasa attacked police station compound during an anti-Modi protest rally on Friday after Jummah prayer.

The Sadar union (land) office was reduced to rubble on 26 March during a protest over Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bangladesh visit. 

The office of Assistant Commissioner (land) was also partially damaged. Hefazt activists vandalised and set fire to the government establishment.

Hathazari Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Ruhul Amin said, "Students of Hathazari madrasa have caused irreparable damage to the people of Hathazari by setting fire to the land office. Due to which everyone has to suffer."

Political analyst and columnist Dr Md Masum Chowdhury told TBS, "Initially the benefits of negotiating with extremist groups are ultimately detrimental. Many nations have been destroyed in the past by negotiating with them. Afghanistan and Pakistan are the blazing examples." 

"Any movement or protest has etiquette. Hefazat's movement against Narendra Modi showed unethical behaviour. Damage to government properties cannot be the part of any movement."

Earlier on 26 march, four people were killed, and dozens injured, when several hundred Hefazat-e-Islam activists clashed with cops in Chattogram's Hathazari. They also attacked a police station there.