Two months have elapsed after the activists of Hefazat-e-Islami Bangladesh created violence in the capital, during their Dhaka-blockade programme, but law enforcers are yet to arrest or trace the masterminds behind the incidents that occurred.
So far, 43 cases have been filed with five police stations in the capital against thousands of people, but they have been able to arrest only a few Hefazat men. Cases were filed against many Hefazat leaders from across the country but the respective police stations are yet to receive instructions about arresting the accused.
Members of law enforcement agencies claim that they were investigating the “sensational cases” with utter sincerity. However, another source in the police alleged that the government filed the cases and reached an understanding with the Islamist group.
Otherwise, there should have been progress in investigation and arrests.
On May 5, activists of Hefazat engaged in violence and carried out attacks in Motijheel, Baitul Mokarram, Paltan and Dainik Bangla areas causing huge losses for business entities and to public property. They also clashed with law enforcers that left around 21 people killed. In the night, law enforcers in a joint operation, “Secure Shapla,” pushed them out of the capital.
Later, 32 cases were filed with Paltan model police station, six with Motijheel, three with Ramna and two cases with Shahbagh and Shyampur police stations. The complainants of the cases were the police, Islamic Foundation, House Building Finance Corporation, National Sport Council, Janata Bank, Bangladesh Communist Party and Dhaka City Corporation.
Among the cases under Paltan police station, eight were lodged by the police while 24 others by different organisations who were the victims of the attacks. Though the cases were filed against 200 identified Hefazat leaders from across the country and 30,000 unnamed people, police have so far arrested only 16 people.
On the other hand, the six cases filed with Motijheel police station were transferred to the Detective Branch of Police after three days. But they also failed to come up with any development after investigation. Police so far arrested Hefazat Secretary General Junaid Babunagari who after remand got bail from the court.
It was learnt that most of the accused in those cases are moving freely under the nose of the lawmen. But district police have not been arresting them since they did not get the list of those accused.
During the violence, Sub-Inspector Mohammad Shahjahan was killed in Motijheel area. Cases were filed against 247 people including Bogra district unit Member Secretary Shamsul Haque of Hefazat for the death.
Recently he attended different public programmes. He was also seen campaigning for the 18-party-backed candidate in the recently-concluded Gazipur City Corporation polls.
Contacted, Syed Shahid Alam, officer-in-charge of Bogra police station, told the Dhaka Tribune that he did not know anything about the Hefazat accused, and that he did not receive any arrest warrant.
Enquired, Amirul Islam, officer-in-charge of Muradnagar police station in Comilla, told the Dhaka Tribune that they did not get any instruction asking action against the Hefazat activists.
In this regard, Superintendent of Police of Khulna district, Mohammad Golam Rouf Khan told the Dhaka Tribune that they would take action after getting instruction from the police headquarters.
About the cases and sending instruction to district police, Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman, deputy commissioner of DMP, told the Dhaka Tribune that the May 5 violence was a sensitive incident and “so we need to investigate the issue in detail and in a sophisticated manner.”
Without getting accurate report through investigation, it is not possible to give instruction to the police stations or conduct mass arrests of the accused, he said.
Inspector General of Police Hassan Mahmood Khandker told the Dhaka Tribune that investigations on the May 5 cases were underway. “Action will be taken against those who will be found involved in any kind of violent activities,” he added.
