No one knows when the investigation into the 42 cases filed by police over the havoc perpetrated by supporters of radical Islamist platform Hefazat-e-Islam on May 5, 2013 in Dhaka, Narayanganj and Chittagong is likely to end.
Talking to the Dhaka Tribune, a number of senior police officials said they were optimistic about completing the investigation soon. However, more than one senior official said they were yet to get specific instructions from the higher authorities on how to work with the cases.
Incidents of killing and attack on law enforcers and journalists, damage of public property and burning Qur’an took place during Hefazat’s demonstrations, on the way to Shapla Chattor of Motijheel and nearby areas on that day, enforced to realise their 13-point charter of demands.
The movement got huge media coverage as well as created panic among the commoners after the BNP-led alliance and HM Ershad’s Jatiya Party had expressed solidarity with the Hefazat, whose top leaders reportedly aimed at toppling the government if the demands were not met.
In the night, they were flashed outside the capital in a combined operation by the law enforcers.
The government refuses to implement the demands terming those contrary to the country’s constitution and the liberal Bangali culture.
Police filed 42 cases against more than 30,000 people – all top leaders and supporters of the platform. Of the 42 cases, 14 were filed with police stations in Narayanganj and Chittagong. The Detective Branch (DB) of police is investigating 15 cases.
The cases were filed under seven types of sections including for damaging public property, killing a police constable and attacking law enforcers, obstructing police from performing duty and use of arms and explosives.
The law enforcers then arrested Hefazat Secretary General Junaid Babunagari and 41 others, and questioned them for several days. After the release of Babunagari and others on bail, there have been no progress in the cases. Babunagari is accused in 11 cases.
However, the law enforcers then claimed that they had got sensational information from the Hefazat leader during interrogation.
BNP Standing Committee members MK Anwar, Rafiqul Islam Mia and Moudud Ahmed were also interrogated. After two years, now all the accused are roaming freely and continuing their extremist activities without any intervention by the law enforcers.
Officials involved in the investigation process say it is a huge task to complete the probe. They have so far been unable to identify the culprits responsible for the attacks from video footage and photographs since there were hundreds of thousands of supporters.
In the meantime, the accused leaders and activists of Hefazat – a platform of Qawmi madrasa-based teachers and students, led by Islamist leaders of the 20-party alliance – are regularly attending press briefings, issuing statements, attending religious conferences and rallies under the nose of the law enforcers.
The accused include Hefazat’s Chittagong unit President Mainuddin Ruhi, Joint Secretary General Farid Ullah, Shamsul Alam, Mahibullah Babu, Tazul Islam, Abul Malek Halim, Azizul Haque Islamabadi, Fazlul Haque Zihadi, Harun Izahar, Iliash Osmani, Nur Hossain Kasemi, Mufti Faezullah, Mahfuzul Haque, Golam Uddin Ekram and Rafiqul Islam Madani.
Jahangir Hossain Matubbor, deputy commissioner of the DB (west) police, said: “We are investigating the cases but it will take time since we have to collect evidence from among thousands of people.” He, however, could not say for certain when the charge sheets could be submitted to court.
DB Joint Commissioner Monirul Islam gave a similar statement.
Apart from the DB police, 27 other cases are being investigated by Motijheel, Paltan and Ramna police.
When contacted, Paltan OC Morshed Alam, Ramna OC Moshiur Rahman and Motijheel OC BM Farman Ali claimed that they had made some progress in the investigation but were waiting for instructions from the high officials.
On the other hand, police officers of Narayanganj and Chittagong police stations dealing with the 14 other cases said the investigations would be completed soon.
Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, state minister for Home Affairs, said charge sheets in the cases would be also submitted in the right time.
