Babunagari urges govt not to take 'self-destructive' decisions 

Allama Junaid Babunagari, Amir of Hefazat-e-Islam, has urged the government not to take any self-destructive decisions at the instigation of foreign hegemonic forces.

"Protests and demonstrations are constitutional rights of people. Peace cannot be established by depriving them of the rights," he further said.

He also demanded immediate withdrawal of conspiratorial and false charges against Hefazat-e-Islam's 17 leaders, including its Secretary General Allama Nurul Islam Jihadi.

Hefazat Amir made the demands in a statement signed by the party's organising secretary Maulana Azizul Haque Islamabadi.

The statement was sent to the media on Thursday.

In the statement, Allama Junaid Babunagari said, "Hefazat-e-Islam is a non-political and religious organisation. It is not the job of Hefazat to remove someone from power or put someone in power. We are peaceful and against violence. But violence can never be stopped through lawsuits and repression."

He said, "On Friday, 26 March, at the National Mosque Baitul Mukarram, a group of miscreants wearing helmets and carrying sharp weapons attacked the innocent peace-loving worshipers without any provocation. The police also opened fire on the worshipers. Then the worshipers built a mass resistance in self-defence." 

"The videos of the clashes that day clearly show who instigated the violence. People across the country have seen those videos. The events of that day also got coverage in various international media," Babunagari added.

The Hefazat Amir said, "There was no programme of Hefazat-e-Islam on that day. So, conspiratorial false cases have been filed against 17 central leaders of Hefazat for purely political purposes. We urge the government to withdraw these cases immediately. Otherwise, the government will undoubtedly be more hated and condemned by the people because of its actions on the scholars and ulamas."

Meanwhile, just hours before Hefazat Amir issued the statement, police arrested four Hefazat activists in a case filed in connection with the attack on Hathazari police station on Thursday morning.