As many as 7,300 people have been sued in connection with the attacks, vandalism, and arson during protests of Hefazat-e-Islam in the past three days in Dhaka, Brahmanbaria, and Sylhet.
Meanwhile, police in Siddhirganj, Narayanganj, are preparing to file another case for 18 vehicles being torched on the Dhaka-Chittagong highway during the Hefazat’s hartal on Sunday.
“At the same time, 10 members of the police were also injured during the violence,” Officer-in-Charge (OC) Moshiur Rahman told Dhaka Tribune on Monday.
“We are preparing to file a case in connection with the incident,” he added.
In Dhaka, police started a case against 500 to 600 unidentified people over the series of clashes between Islamist groups and law enforcers in the capital’s Baitul Mukarram National Mosque on Friday.
The case was filed with the Paltan police station the same night, Officer-in-Charge (OC) Abu Bakar Siddique told Dhaka Tribune today.
Charges of assaulting law enforcers, obstruction of police duty, and arson have been brought in the case, he said.
Dozens of people, including several journalists, were injured in the clashes in the afternoon on Friday when the country was celebrating 50 years of independence.
In Brahmanbaria, as many as 6,500 people have been accused of the violent protests carried out under the banner of Hefazat-e-Islam over the past three days in Brahmanbaria town.
So far, police have arrested 14 suspects in three separate cases, all of which were filed by police with Brahmanbaria Sadar Model police station on Saturday afternoon, confirmed Brahmanbaria Superintendent of Police (SP) Anisur Rahman.
“Two cases were filed over the attacks on the police superintendent's office and a police outpost under the Sadar Model police station.
“There are about 4,000-5,000 unnamed accused in the cases," Brahmanbaria Sadar Model police station Inspector (Investigation) Md Shahjahan said.
“Another case was filed in connection to the arson attacks and vandalism of public and private offices at Brahmanbaria’s Medda area, where 1,500 unidentified persons were accused,” he added.
In Sylhet, at least 200 leaders and activists of Jamaat, Shibir, and Hefazat in connection with the clashes in Sylhet during Sunday’s hartal.
Mostafizur Rahman, in-charge (SI) of Bandarbazar outpost in Kotwali, filed the case on Sunday night.
Police named 16 accused in the case, including five suspects previously arrested over the incident, and also accused 200 unnamed others, confirmed Sylhet Kotwali Model police station OC Abu Farhad Khan.
He said the charges include obstruction of police duties and assault on police personnel.
Leaders and activists of the organization blockaded several points in Sylhet by laying brick chips, burning tires or electrical poles.
Awami League and its affiliated organizations took out an anti-hartal procession in the afternoon. Leaders and activists of Awami League and its affiliates marched from Chauhatta Point to City Point.
When the Shibir leaders and activists arrived chanting slogans, a clash with Chhatra League erupted. Police arrested five Shibir activists over the incident.
On Friday, a group of Hefazat-e-Islam hardliners clashed with the police during protests against Modi’s visit outside the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque in Dhaka.
The clash soon spread like wildfire across the country which left hundreds of people, including journalists and law enforcers, injured and scores killed as well government and private properties were damaged.
The same day, the Islamist group called dawn to dusk hartal across the country for Sunday and announced a countrywide protest for Saturday for the deaths of its members.
Total 14 Hefazat men – 10 in Brahmanbaria and four in Chittagong – have died in the ensuing clashes with the law enforcement officials since Friday.
Md Serajul Islam from Sylhet, Masud Alam from Comilla, and Shamima Rita, Narayanganj also contributed to this report
