Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami is reportedly raising fund for “massive demonstration” to be held if the appellate division verdict goes against war criminal Delawar Hossain Sayedee.
Jamaat has already formed a committee namely “Sayedee Mukti Sangram Parishad” comprised of Islami Chhatra Shibir activists and other sympathisers.
Shibir activists and Jamaat sympathisers are contributing to the propaganda exercise.
The fund is being collected for Sayedee’s release and helping families of those that were either killed or injured during clashes with police on February 28 last year.
The fund-raising move of the “Sayedee Mukti Sangram Parishad” includes banner advertising and door-to-door activities.
A private bank employee and Jamaat sympathiser Nayan, who lives in Mirpur 10, said a team came to him and demanded Tk2,000.
Jamaat activists were also seen campaigning in Chittagong, Laxmipur, Chandpur, Noakhali and Comilla for fund collection, hanging banner vehemently in front of lawmen.
They were urging like-minded people to donate through mobile money transfer, said our sources.
Asked about it, Shibir Press Secretary Abu Saleh Yahia said thus they collected fund from their activists and supporters to run the organisation.
Abu Saleh Yahia, however, ruled out the notion that the fund-collection system was a kind of “extortion”.
According to Rezaul Karim, former Shibir central president and Jamaat central leader, “Sayedee Mukti Sangram Parishad does not belong to Jamaat. His fans have formed it.”
The party insiders say general people will also participate in the campaign that will be launched for Sayedee’s release.
They also think it will be an opportunity for Jamaat to secure release of all party leaders at a time.
Jamaat and its students wing Islami Chhatra Shibir yesterday observed a countrywide demonstration that resulted in clashes between the party members and lawmen.
Several senior Jamaat leaders told the Dhaka Tribune if the verdict went against Sayedee they would impose a nonstop blockade in upazilas and districts known for Jamaat strongholds.
The party has also a plan to persist with their blockade programmes till all its leaders including Sayedee branded as war criminals are released from prison.
Jamaat leaders also said they were bracing for all odds, even repression by law enforcers, keeping in mind police crackdown on Hefazat’s May 5 rally last year.
A highly placed source told the Dhaka Tribune Jamaat had already instructed their leaders and activists to gear up for any action necessary to take Jamaat leaders out of jails.
It vowed that Jamaat-Shibir was ready to face any crackdown by law enforcers and the Awami League activists’ violence against them.
Jamaat central leader Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher said Jamaat activists were very active in all programmes and the trend of their spontaneous participation in party activities would continue in days to come.
