Over a hundred Jamaat-Shibir activists were arrested and 30 others injured during countrywide violence surrounding yesterday’s Appellate Division verdict that awarded war criminal Delawar Hossain Sayedee imprisonment until death.
The activists brought out processions, torched tires, vandalised vehicles and clashed with the law enforcers and ruling party activists in different districts, protesting the verdict.
In the capital, the Jamaat-Shibir activists brought out brisk processions in Badda, Gulistan, Jatrabari and Mirpur areas, triggering sporadic clashes with the law enforcers.
Three Jamaat-Shibir activists were arrested at Badda in connection with the clash. Gulshan police station Officer-in-Charge Rafiqul Islam said: “The Jamaat-Shibir activists brought out a procession in front of Cambrian Collage around 1pm. Police fired blank shots to disperse the procession.”
The activists also brought out protest processions in Gulistan and Mirpur areas around 2pm, and in Jatrabari around 5pm.
However, yesterday’s violence was very insignificant compared to the terror unleashed by Jamaat-Shibir activists after the International Crimes Tribunal awarded death penalty to the war criminal on February 28 last year.
During February 28 to March 5 last year, around 60 people were reportedly killed in different parts of the country, as per government data.
The destruction of the Palli Bidyut Samity office in Shibganj, Chapainawabganj alone bled the power sector of financial loss worth Tk200 crore, while the railway sector suffered a blow of around Tk8.5 crore, according to government estimates.
They also carried out attacks on Hindu minorities in Bogra, Joypurhat, Sirajganj, Noakhali and Chittagong.
Until March 4, a total of 235 cases were lodged in connection with the violence across the country and 1,572 people arrested.
In a comparative sense, the revised verdict against Sayedee yesterday triggered less violent activities.
Our Comilla correspondent reported that 10 people, including a police constable, were injured in a police-Shibir clash in Monohorganj area following the verdict.
Monohorganj police station OC Mohammad Abdul Hai said Shibir activists brought out a procession and tried to vandalise the area.
The clash was triggered as police tried to disperse the agitated Shibir activists, and it left around 10 people injured, including Constable Khokon Mia, he added.
Around 20 people were injured in a clash between two groups of Awami League and Jamaat activists in Habiganj’s Nabiganj yesterday, while police arrested 27 people in this connection, our Habiganj correspondent reported.
Jamaat-Shibir activists brought a procession protesting the verdict and the clash broke out as local Awami League activists barred the procession, Nabiganj police station OC Nazmul Islam said.
Meanwhile, around 27 people, including Kushtia district Jamaat leader Yunus Ali, were arrested during several police drives at different parts of the district since Tuesday night, our correspondent reported.
Kushtia Police Super Proloy Chisim said the arrests were made on suspicion that they could carry out subversive activities. Additional police force were deployed at different important points to avert any untoward incident, he added.
Our Brahmanbaria correspondent said 10 Jamaat-Shibir activists were arrested at different upazilas on Tuesday night.
District Intelligence Officer Mayeen Uddin Khan said three of them were arrested while holding a secret meeting at the residence of city unit Shibir Secretary Sarwar.
In Jhenaidah, police arrested 21 Jamaat-Shibir activists, including sadar unit Shibir President Shah Jalal, in separate drives since Tuesday night, our correspondent reported.
Deputy Commissioner Shafikul Islam said four platoons of the BGB had been deployed in the district to avert any untoward incident.
In Rajshahi, two Jamaat-Shibir activists were arrested during a clash with police in Shalbagan area, our correspondent said.
Another clash was also reported in Katakhali area where police fired rubber bullets and tear shells to bring the situation under control.
However, no one was reported injured in the clashes, Motihar police station OC Alamgir Hossain said, adding that drives were on to nab the culprits responsible for the clashes.
Our Shatkhira correspondent reported that four Jamaat-Shibir activists were arrested on Tuesday night in separate drives in the district.
Tight security measures were also taken in this regard, additional forces were deployed and reserved forces were kept on alert to prevent any subversive activities, Additional Police Super Mir Modasser Hossain said.
In Sylhet, Jamaat-Shibir activists brought out seven sudden processions at different points of the city and vandalised 5/6 CNG-run auto-rickshaws in Dorshon Dewri and Dokkhin Surma areas.
Kotwali police station OC Monirul Islam said three people were detained for interrogation in this regard. However, no one was reported injured in these incidents.
Elsewhere in Jhalokati, police arrested nine people, suspecting them as Jamaat-Shibir activists, while a group of activists were setting tires on fire in Kalibari area of the city yesterday afternoon, protesting the Sayedee verdict.
Police said actions would be taken against the culprits, while the innocents would be released after interrogation.
Thakurgaon police administration embarrassed
Our Thakurgaon correspondent reported that police had sent 15 Shibir activists, who were arrested on Tuesday night at different Shibir messes in the city, to court yesterday.
Meanwhile, Thakurgaon police administration felt embarrassed as several Awami League and Jubo League leaders had allegedly requested them to release some of the arrestees, claiming them to be Chhatra League activists.
The leaders, however, could not clarify when asked what the Chhatra League activists were doing in Shibir messes that night.
Seeking anonymity, one official said people who made the requests include one ruling party lawmaker.
Thakurgaon police station OC AKM Mehedi Hasan said the drives were carried out to avert any subversive activities surrounding yesterday’s verdict.