Hefazat-e-Islam chief Allama Shafi on Saturday termed the outfit’s 13-point demand as “commitment of faith” and said it was not meant to oust any political party to bring another one in power.
He came up with the assertion while addressing a press briefing at Hefazat’s temporary party office in the capital’s Lalbagh area on Saturday morning.
The press meet was arranged ahead of the Chittagong based Islamist outfits pre- scheduled and much hyped “Dhaka Siege” programme on Sunday.
While talking to media, the Hefazat chief also expressed determination to make the siege programme “a success at any cost”.
Claiming that thousands of Hefazat activists have already arrived at the capital and many more are on their way, Allama Shafi accused ruling party men of obstructing people from coming to the capital and the government of trying to foil the programme by barring inter-district vehicular movement.
Terming Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Friday’s speech as “misleading”, Allama Shafi said: “She is trying to avoid our demands as she did not give any assurance about realising the 13-point demand charter.”
In order to allow the rescue operation in Savar go on smoothly, the adjacent area would remain out of the siege programme, he added.
Shafi also demanded compensation for the “martyrs” of “the movement” and immediate release of Amar Desh acting editor Mahmudur Rahman.
The “Dhaka Siege” would begin at 6am on Sunday and continue until any further announcement was made, he informed.
Shafi also criticised the authorities concerned as they are yet to be confirmed whether they would be able to hold a rally in capital’s Baitul Mokarram.
