Leaders and activists of radical Islamist platform Hefazat-e-Islam and Jamaat-e-Islami staged demonstrations in Dhaka, Chittagong and some other areas of the country yesterday.
The Hefazat leaders vowed to wage a tougher movement if state religion was abolished from the constitution after the High Court hearing that resumes tomorrow, after five years of its adjournment.
Then the controversial parliament of HM Ershad-led Jatiya Party introduced the provision in 1988.
In 2013, Qawmi madrasa-based Hefazat observed countrywide demonstrations and held two rallies at Motijheel to press home their 13-point demands that include formulation of anti-blasphemy law and ban on free mixing of men and women. The government refused to fulfil the demands terming those contrary to the constitution and other existing laws. Most of the Hefazat leaders are linked to the Islamist parties of BNP-led 20-party alliance.
From a pre-scheduled rally at Andorkilla Mosque in Chittagong after Jumma prayers, Hefazat Secretary General Junaid Babunagari said: “We will lay down our lives, if necessary, to protect Islam as the state religion. None will remain Muslim constitutionally if Islam is left out of the constitution.”
Babunagari claimed that they were not out to implement the agenda of any political party. “We are not supposed to help anyone grab state power or topple the government. Our aim is to protect Islam in this country,” he said.
“We sacrificed our lives at Shapla Chattar. We are ready to lay down our lives again to protect Islam. We will declare Jihad from Chittagong if Islam is dropped as the state religion. Lovers of Islam will not bow down to such an evil bid,” said Mainuddin Ruhi, joint secretary of Hefazat.
In Dhaka, leaders and activists of Shibir also joined the procession and rally organised by Hefazat’s city unit in front of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque. They warned the government of dire consequences if Islam was dropped from the constitution as state religion. From the rally attended by around 4,000 demonstrators, the speakers also chanted slogans demanding tough punishment of the atheists.
