Hefazat-e-Islam has taken necessary steps to face legal cases filed against many of its leaders and activists following clashes with law enforcers on May 5 and 6.
Law enforcement agencies filed 26 cases against many Hefazat leaders and activists for alleged involvement in violence during the “siege of Dhaka.”
Most of the Hefazat leaders, who are also teachers of various Quami madrasas, are said to be on the run.
The Dhaka Tribune did not find any senior teachers at Hefazat’s Dhaka unit office in Lalbagh, and they were unavailable on their listed phone numbers.
However, a leader of Hefazat informed the Dhaka Tribune of a clandestine meeting that was held at a madrasa in Lalbagh on Friday, where Hefazat leaders decided to contest the cases against them.
At the meeting Hefazat leader Mufti Altaf Hossain was assigned to deal with the cases. According to the source, Mufti Altaf said Hefazat would concentrate on their 13-point demands as soon as the leaders are released.
According to the source – who was one of the leaders attending the meeting – the 18-party opposition alliance offered to help in dealing with the cases. However, the organisation decided to appoint advocates Sanaullah Mia and Rezaul Karim as legal counsels.
Hefazat’s adviser and the Islami Oikya Jote’s chairman Abdul Latif Nizami said: “Our leaders always show their respect for the law. We expect the government will not interfere in these cases.”
Mufti Altaf Hossain said: “We might file a petition for bail on Monday [tomorrow] or Tuesday.”
