Detectives have arrested the president of Hefazat-e-Islam’s Dhaka city unit over his alleged link to the Shapla Chattar violence on May 5, 2013.
Junaid Al Habib was held on Saturday from a madrasa at the capital’s Baridhara, said Dhaka Metropolitan Police Detective Branch (DB) Joint Commissioner Mahbub Alam.
“He is named in a number of cases filed over the 2013 mayhem,” he said.
With this, the number of arrested central Hefazat leaders rose to seven. They are among over 100 leaders and activists of the Islamist group booked over the rampage so far.
The government appears to have been taking a hardline on the umbrella group of several Islamist parties and Qawmi madrasas following a series of violent clashes with the police, starting March 26, to protest against the arrival of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on a state visit.
At least 14 Hefazat men died during the violent protests with the police that continued till March 28, when some government facilities, Awami League offices and houses of the Hindus were damaged in Brahmanbaria, Chattogram and several other districts.
Detectives said that Junaid would be interrogated to learn about his involvement in the recent attacks.
Junaid is also the joint secretary general of Hefazat’s central committee. He is the principal of a madrasa in Dhaka.
Meanwhile, a Dhaka court yesterday placed Maulana Jubair Ahmed, vice-president of Hefazat’s Dhaka city unit, on a five-day remand in connection with the 2013 rampage.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad Jasim passed the order after the police sought 10 days to quiz him.
Jubair, who was detained from his residence in Dhaka city on Friday, is accused in a case filed with Paltan police station.
