Dhaka City unit Hefazat-e-Islam Convener Moulana Nur Hossain Kashemi, also a nayeb-e-ameer of the Islamist organisation, was allegedly picked up by Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) along with five of his associates from the capital’s Gulshan.
However, Rab 1 Commanding Officer Lt Col Kismat Haiyat rejected the allegation outright, saying, “We did not arrest or detain Kashemi or any of his associates. He came to us and after a discussion he left by his own will.”
In a reply, he said, “We just spoke to him about the Hefazat-e-Islam holding a rally, scheduled for December 24 at the capital’s Shapla Chhatar in Motijheel. After an hour-long discussion, Kashemi left the Rab 1 offices by 2:30pm,” said Lt Col Kismat Kayat.
Asked, the Rab 1 Commanding Officer said, “We spoke to him about the rally’s security and whether holding it would be considered wise under the present circumstances.”
“Both we and Kashemi have wanted to talk to each other over the rally issue. He had come to us with five or six of his associates.”
“The claim of arrest or detention of the Hefazat leader is completely false and nothing but a rumour,” he claimed.
However, Hefazat-e-Islam alleged that Rab 1 officials had picked up Kashemi sometime around 1pm from Jameya Madaniya Madrasa in Baridhara.
Hefazat-e-Islam sought help on Saturday from the government to permit the rally and from the opposition for cooperation in holding the rally by relaxing its blockade programme.
Earlier, State Minister for Law Quamrul Islam vowed not to let Hefazat hold the rally by any means.
