Hefazat yesterday vowed to continue its sit-in at Motijheel’s Shapla Chattar until the government meets its 13-point demand.
These include introduction of a blasphemy law, capital punishment of “atheist” bloggers and a ban on “free mingling” of men and women.
Hefazat chief Shah Ahmad Shafi asked followers to hold their position in Motijheel until the demands were met.
In a statement issued last night, the Hefazat chief condemned government action against his activists and said that the ongoing movement could not be checked through “oppression.”
The unsigned statement was sent by email to media outlets.
“The peaceful gathering at the Motijheel’s Shapla Chattar will go on until the realisation of the 13-point demand.”
The statement also claimed that it was the police and the ruling party’s henchmen who launched attacks on Hefazat men on their way to Motijheel earlier in the day.
Shafi expressed anger at the death of activists and claimed that 300 others were also injured in the attacks.
“I urge the government to accept the 13-point demand without creating anarchy,” the statement quoted Ahmad Safi as saying.
Hefazat-e-Islam had received written permission from Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) to host its rally at the busy Motijheel intersection from 3pm yesterday.
The rally was meant to be the culmination of Hefazat’s daylong Dhaka-siege which commenced early yesterday morning with activists barring the six main entry points in the capital, closing it off from the rest of the country.
Law enforcers and Hefazat activists clashed at various parts of the city yesterday killing at least four people and injuring around 300 others. The activists fought pitched battles with law enforcers at Gulistan, Purana Paltan, Naya Paltan, Baitul Mukarram, Bijoynagar, Bangabandhu Avenue, Notre Dame College, Santinagr, Malibag and adjacent areas.
