‘Hifazat lost control of the rally’

Hifazat-e Islam had lost control over its Sunday’s rally, Junaid Babu Nagari, Secretary General of the organisation, told detectives during interrogations on the first day of his police remand.

When asked who were then controlling the rally, Monirul Islam, Joint Commissioner, Detective Branch, quoted the Hifazat leader as saying, “18-Party alliance took control of the rally.”
BNP chief Khaleda Zia had endorsed the Hifazat’s Dhaka-siege programme. She had also asked the activists of the main opposition to assist Hifazat during its programme.
Those who had clashed with police on Sunday were not supporters of Hifazat but activists of Jamaat-e-Islami and their student front Islami Chhatra Shibir, Babu Nagari reportedly said during his interrogation.

Hifazat supporters took part in massive acts of arson and vandalism of vehicles and shops from Motijheel to Paltan and Baitul Mukarram on Sunday. Three people were killed in these incidents.

A combined force of RAB, police and BGB evicted activists after an early morning raid. The activists had allegedly planned to attack the Secretariat among other important structures, said authorities.

A Dhaka court had sent Babu Nagari to nine-day police remand in connection with Sunday’s violence.

Hifazat-e Islam did not plan to occupy the rally site, its Sectetary General reportedly told his interrogators. The Chittagong-based group could not take measures to prevent the event that subsequently unfolded as it had lost control over the protestors, the police top brass quoted him as saying.

When asked if Hifazat chief Shah Ahmad Shafi was informed about this apparent loss of control, Babu Nagari said, “Shafi has poor eyesight and does not watch television.”

Shafi too was misinformed, claimed the Hifazat Secretary General.

Hifazat- e Islam had received the permission to hold a rally in Motijheel at 3pm during their siege-Dhaka campaign. The permit allowed the rally to continue until 6pm but the supporters refused to leave the place despite requests from the government.

These were revealed to reporters by Joint Commissioner Monirul Islam in front of the DB office on Wednesday.

“Junaid Babu Nagari cries most of the time and shared these facts with police while in tears,” claimed the detective.

Almost 80,000 activists of Jamaat, Shibir were supposed to be present in Dhaka ahead of the siege and BNP’s rally. But they failed to reach Dhaka in such large numbers due to precautions taken by detectives, Hifazat leader reportedly said.

A total of 16 cases were filed in Motijheel, Paltan and Ramna police stations at Sunday night, after the day long violence. Hifazat secretary general Junaid Babu Nagari is the prime accused in all these cases. He was arrested from Dhakeshwary of Lalbagh on Monday night.

Police say they have been trying to find out the real masterminds of the radical outfit and its source of finance, firearms and explosives. Detectives believe Babu Nagari is a key source to get information about the nature of Hifazat-e Islam’s conspiracy to overthrow the government.