3 die in Hifazat havoc

1 / 1

Three people have been killed in the clashes between activists of Hifazat-e Islam and the law enforcers in the streets surrounding the Baitul Mukarram in the capital on Sunday.

Paltan, Gulistan, Bijoynagar and Kakrail, which are hardly a mile away from the Hifazat rally taking place at Motijheel commercial hub, have turned into a battlecone as activists of the raical Islamist group are fighting pitched battles with the law enforcersPolice said a helper of a bus they had requisitioned was killed on the spot and more than 50 were injured in the clashes. They said two more people died of their injuries later.

One of the two was ‘Mamun’, 21 and the other is yet to be identified, Dhaka Medical College and Hospital Police Camp Inspector Muzzamel Haque told bdnews24.com.

Police and witnesses said a group of Hifazat activists, fighting the law enforcers on their way to the rally, allegedly vandalised and torched the headquarters of the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) at Purana Paltan.

At least 15 crude bombs exploded in front of the ruling Awami League’s headquarters at the Bangabandhu Avenue at around 1:45pm.

Clashes soon erupted at the Bangabandhu Avenue and quickly spread to surrounding areas turning the whole of the Paltan into a battlefield.

Witnesses said the explosions took place when several Hifazat processions were heading towards Motijheel to join the group’s rally.

Home Minister Muhiuddin Khan Alamgir has alleged that the activists of the Jamaat-e-Islami and its student affiliate Islami Chhatra Shibir had carried out the attacks on the Awami League headquarters and were engaged in clashes under the guise of the Hifazat supporters.

Statements of the police and witnesses substantiated the claim of the minister.

The violence erupted after authorities permitted the Hifazat to hold its scheduled 3pm rally at Shapla Chattar in busy Motijheel earlier in the day. The clearance came amidst the Hifazat's Dhaka blockade that has effectively cut off the capital from most districts since early Sunday.

The Hifazat blockade programme aims to pressure the government into accepting the controversial 13-point charter of demands.

Similar picketing in support of the blockade took place on Demra road, where Hifazat supporters were seen tearing down film posters. “Curbs on obscenity in films’ is one of Hifazat’s key demands.