Leaders of the ruling Awami League have strongly criticized Odhikar official Adilur Rahman, who was convicted of spreading false information about an operation against Hefazat-e-Islam members at Shapla Chattar in Dhaka a decade ago.
Awami League leaders have accused Adilur of misleading foreigners by publishing a fabricated report on Hefazat-e-Islam after receiving money from opposition parties. Adilur falsely reported that 61 people had died during a Hefazat rally.
Awami League leaders criticized Adilur during a peace and development rally held on Friday afternoon at Bangabandhu Avenue, organized by the Dhaka City South Unit of the Awami League.
A Dhaka court sentenced Adilur Rahman Khan, the secretary of the human rights organization Odhikar, and ASM Nasiruddin, the director of Odhikar, to two years in prison on Thursday.
Following the verdict, several organizations from both home and abroad expressed their concerns about Adilur Rahman.
At Friday’s rally, Awami League presidium member and Agriculture Minister Dr Abdur Razzaque said: "False information about Hefazat-e-Islam has been disseminated. Some civil society representatives and lobbyists are spreading false reports after receiving money from BNP-Jamaat and other fanatics. Adilur Rahman misleads foreigners with false reports after taking money."
Recalling the incident of May 5, 2013, the agriculture minister said: "At that time, I was the disaster management minister, and I closely monitored the situation. We asked Hefazat leaders to disperse and end their rally, but they refused and threatened to besiege Ganabhaban and the secretariat to topple the government."
"At around 8pm, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia made a statement declaring support for Hefazat members. Jatiya Party leader HM Ershad provided water and food for Hefazat activities. The entire city of Dhaka was in chaos," Razzaque continued.
He added: "Claiming that 61 people died in that Hefazat rally—what could be a bigger lie than that? Is it unfair if the liar is held accountable by the law?"
Awami League Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif commented that there is an ongoing conspiracy regarding the sentencing of Adilur Rahman.
He mentioned that Odhikar had claimed that 61 people had died during the Hefazat rally, which led to a case being filed against their false propaganda. Now Adilur has been sentenced to two years in prison, and Hanif questioned why BNP leader Mirza Fakhrul is unhappy about this.
"I will urge our foreign friends not to engage in conspiracies against the people. We want to make it clear that if BNP and Jamaat announce any programs, we will counter any of their conspiracies on the streets," Hanif added.
Hanif said the BNP had aspired to seize state power based on the Hefazat movement.
"BNP leader Khaleda Zia believed that the government would fall due to the Hefazat movement and instructed her party members to prepare 200 cows to feed Hefazat activists on May 5," he said.
Other speakers at the rally included Awami League Organizing Secretary Mirza Azam, Jubo League Chairman Sheikh Fazle Shams Parash, and Awami League working committee member Sanzidsa Khanom.
The meeting was presided over by Dhaka South Unit Awami League President Abu Ahammed Mannafi, with General Secretary Humayun Kabir conducting it.
