Hefazat e Islam Protests and aftermath [May 5 onwards]

[ammark]

Al Jazeera

[ammark]

Now that Mawlana Shafi is arrested, what happens next? Do another million angry young men come out with Kalashnikovs this time? Or is the AL govt going to make him a living martyr like the Shah did to Khomeini?

[HereWeGo]

They want blasphemy law and they themselves burn Book stalls that sell Quran (among other books)....
Its not hard to spot a bigot... but I guess for some the hatred for the Govt trumps every other thing...

http://www.banglanews24.com/detailsn...06052013194222

"হতাশা আর আক্ষেপের মিশেলে বললেন, “আমার দোকানে সবই ছিলো কোরআন শরীফ ও ধর্মীয় বই। হেফাজতের কর্মীরা যখন আগুন লাগাতে আসে, তাদের হাতে ধরে বলি-ভাই আমার দোকানে সব ইসলামী বই, কোরআন শরীফ। ভাই, আমার দোকানে আগুন দেবেন না।”

আবুল খায়ের বলেন, “আমার অনুরোধে মন গলেনি তাদের। দশ/বারোজন হেফাজত কর্মী আমাকে লাঞ্ছিত করেন, মারধর করে আমাকে দোকান থেকে সরিয়ে আগুন ধরিয়ে দেন।”

[Rifat]

Ya Allah,

Restore peace and sanity in the hearts and minds of people of Bangladesh

[PoorFan]

Bit old, but a report that tells the stories behind. Did not surprised at all when Khaleda asked for support to HI people's non-stop sitting in 'Shapla Chottor', just after BNP governing body meeting yesterday evening/early night.

Monday, April 08, 2013

Hefajat breaks BNP’s heart

Angry at soft programme, main opposition decides not to support its hartal today

Shakhawat Liton and Rashidul Hasan



Just a day’s hartal called by the Hefajat-e Islam appears to have upset the BNP, which wanted tougher action from the Islamist group to make April a turning point in the opposition alliance’s oust-govt movement.

The main opposition party had expected that Hefajat men from their Motijheel rally on Saturday would announce agitation programmes such as non-stop shutdowns or sit-ins for several days.

It also decided to support Hefajat actions and supplement those by enforcing more hartals and blockades.

The BNP had relied upon stalwarts of some Islamist parties that are its alliance partners to convince the Hefajat top leadership to go for tougher programmes.
The Islamist leaders, who also hold posts in Hefajat, had made hectic efforts to push through the opposition alliance’s agenda.

But Hefajat Ameer Shah Ahmad Shafi did not agree with them and only called a day-long hartal for today, sources in the alliance and Hefajat say.

On Saturday night, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, chief of the 18-party alliance, expressed her resentment at two separate meetings with the party’s policymaking body and top leaders of her alliance.

Finally, the BNP, which supported the Islamist group’s long march and provided food, drinks and other logistics to the marchers on Saturday, decided not to back today’s hartal.

Khaleda Zia also suspended the alliance’s April 10 rally.
The BNP had also given a break to its street agitations, thinking that the Hefajat would announce tougher programmes. The party-led alliance also decided not to go for any nationwide hartal after April 2.

“Now it is almost certain that April will not be a turning point in the opposition movement. The agitation has apparently lost momentum after Hefajat’s go-slow strategy,” a BNP policymaker told The Daily Star yesterday, wishing anonymity.
Asked, Brig Gen (retd) ASM Hannan Shah, a member of the national standing committee of the BNP, said people had expected that Hefajat would opt for tougher agitation programmes and political analysts had forecast it would give a boost to the opposition movement.

“The opposition one-point movement could have got pace had Hefajat announced tougher agitation programmes.”

Ahmad Abdul Quader, secretary general of Khelafat Majlish, a component of the 18-party alliance, said: “We had expected that the one-point movement would be intensified further and this month would be an effective one. But there is now a gap between expectation and reality.”

“Now, we will have to reassess our strategy about intensifying the anti-government movement,” Quader told The Daily Star yesterday.

Junaid Babunagari, secretary general of Hefajat-e Islam, acknowledged that there was immense pressure on the organisation to call non-stop hartals and to turn the rally into a sit-in.

“But our Boro Hujur [Hefajat chief] did not agree. We were committed to the government to leave the place [rally venue at Motijheel] by 5:00pm [Saturday],” Babunagari told The Daily Star yesterday.
However, some leaders, including Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, have a different viewpoint.

Read more in Daily Star

[Sun_]

খবরে যা দেখলাম তা হল, র‍্যাব-পুলিশ অভিযান শুরুর আগে কয়েকবার করে হেফাজতের শীর্ষ নেতাদের কে চলে যাবার অনুরধ করেছিল। কিন্তু আমাদের মহান হেফাজতকারিরা সেইটাতে কর্ণপাত করার প্রয়োজনীয়তা অনুভব করেননাই। আর করিবেই বা কেন তারা তো তখন পরের দিন সকালে উঠিয়া কি কি আকাম কুকাম করিবে সেই মহান পরিকল্পনাতে মগ্ন ছিলেন। আর যারা এইখানে যাবর কাটিয়া যাইতেছেন এই বলিয়া যে অত নিকষ কাল রাত্রে শান্তিপ্রিয় হেফাযতিরা কি এমন করিতেছিল যে পুলিশ দুধের শিশু কামেল হেজতকারিদের উপুড় এইরূপ নির্মম আক্রমণ করিল, তাহাদের উচিৎ এইরূপ আজাইরা কথা বলিবার পূর্বে নিজেদের চর্মচক্ষু দিয়া হেফাজত গাধাগুলির গতকাল্কের সুকর্মগুলি ভাল করিয়া চর্বন করিয়া নেওয়া। এই ভেরাগুলিরে যদি পুলিশ তাহাদের না তাড়িয়া সুপুষ্ট ঘাস দিয়া আদর আপ্যায়ন করিত তাহা হইলে এই দিব্ব জ্ঞানপ্রাপ্ত ভেরাগুলি যে পরদিন সকাল বেলা উঠিয়া নিজেদের পালে নতুন ভেড়ার সমাবেস করিয়া মতিঝিলের সমস্ত অফিসগুলিকে জ্বালাইয়া দেওয়াকে ইমানি দায়িত্ব বলিয়া মনে করিবে না সেই ধরনের গ্যারান্টি কি কেহ দিতে পারবে।শান্তিপ্রিয় সমাবেশ সবাই করতে পারে মারহাবা, কিন্তু তাই বলিয়া তাহারা হেলিকপ্টার দিয়া ঢাকা আসিয়া রাস্তাঘাট ভাঙ্গিয়া ফেলিবে, দোকানপাট পুরিয়া ফেলিবে,লুট করিবে, ইচ্ছামত সাংবাদিক পিটাইবে আর তাহাদিগকে কিছুই বলা যাইবে না .........আহা,আহা কি আহ্লাদ।

[Dhurr]

The morons from Hefazot-e-Razakar trashed the entire area, from Motijheel to Stadium to Baitul Mukarram to Paltan and beyond. They burned the entire front face of House Building. They burned down every single car parked in the premises of House Building. They pelted brick bats at people living in the area, and it's very much a residential area next to House Building. These Hefazot-a-Razakar idiots set fire to Azad Products; they set on fire all the sidewalk stalls in front of Azad Products which were set up by people who invested their life's savings in their small businesses. The Hefazot-e-Razakar ku**as set fire to the entire North Gate of Baitul Mukarram Masjid. They burned down all the book stalls in the Baitul Mukarram Market. If you have been to these book stalls, then I am sure you know that they usually sell the Quran, the Hadith and mostly religious books. Why did these mollahs burn the Quran? Tell me! The idiots also set on fire many, many jewellery shops after they had broken into and robbed those stores. This, right here, shows you their intention.

Since most of you here care about sports, find someone you know in Bangladesh to visit the Bangabandhu stadium and report the carnage from there. The Hefazot-e-Razakar bhondo hujurs uprooted the athletics track in the Bangabandhu stadium, broke the electronic timer, set all the chairs on fire in the media gallery, broke chairs in the vip lounge, broke all the glass panes for windows and doors in the vip lounge and the media gallery and damaged many, many millions of takas worth of athletics equipment stored downstairs in the storage area of the stadium. The entire Bangabandhu stadium had been renovated for the Bangladesh Games. Most sports in Bangladesh (cricket is really the only exception) are neglected; for athletes who participate in these sports, they finally got some amenities thanks to the Bangladesh Games. Now, that's all gone.

Is this what Islam teaches them? Every single person who supports Hefazot-e-Islam should be hanged. No ands, ifs or buts. These people hate our country. They have hated this country since its birth. Now, they are trying to turn this country into Pakistan. Kill them. Hang them. I am done trying to talk sense into these morons, and I can't believe most of you believe the nonsense these morons post on the internet. Really? You can't find a SINGLE person who lives in the area and ask them about what they saw on their eyes? You would rather believe some religious fundamentalist with an agenda to turn Bangladesh into Pakistan? Really? Shame on you if you have any sympathy for these Hefazot bas***ds. They went for wanton arson, pillage and killed people in Dhaka yesterday; now, they are doing the same in Hathajari, Bagerhat and elsewhere. So yeah, shame on you if you sympathize with them.

Watch any Bangladeshi TV channel. They are all reporting the same thing. I've been to the area; I have seen the carnage with my own eyes. I have relatives living in the area who saw the carnage with their very own eyes last night. I have a relative who was stuck in Motijheel all night last night, and he says the same thing. So, all this is false, but what the propagandists in Basher Kella and the other jaroj shontans of Pak army are saying is true?

[PoorFan]

The numbers are increasing in local media too.

Monday, May 06, 2013

HEFAJAT-COP CLASH IN NARAYANGANJ
3 lawmen among 18 killed



Star Online Report

Hefajat-e Islam activists beat up policemen at Kanchpur in Narayanganj on Monday morning couple of hours after the group was driven off the capital. 18 including 3 law enforcers were killed and at least 50 hurt in the clash. Photo: Focus Bangla

At least 18 people including three law enforcers were killed and over 50 injured when Hefajat-e Islam activists clashed with security forces at Kanchpur in Narayanganj on Monday.
The lawmen — nayek subedar Shah Alam, 55, of Border Guard Bangladesh, constable Zakaria, 44, and nayek Firoz Khan, 53, — were beaten to death, Dhaka Medical College Hospital sources said.
Five out of the six other deceased were identified as Mizanur Rahman, Mazharul Islam, Hannan, Masum and Palash. All of them were shot dead, reports our correspondent.
The marauding Hefajat men vandalised and torched at least 10 vehicles including one of Rapid Action Battalion and also set fire to a police outpost on the Dhaka-Chittagong highway.
Following the clashes, transport movement on the highway remained suspended for eight hours until law enforcers took the situation under control around 1:00pm.
Police had to fire several hundreds of gunshots, rubber bullets and teargas shells to disperse the unruly activists.
Azimul Hossain, senior assistant superintendent of police, said they received information that Hefajat men, after driven off the Shapla Chattar of Motijheel, were vandalising and torching vehicles on Dhaka-Chittagong highway stretching from Signboard to Khanchpur.
Hearing the news, a joint team of police, BGB and Rab men rushed to the highway around 5:00am and tried to disperse the unruly activists, Azimul said.
At one stage, a gang hurled several cocktails targeting the law enforcers forcing them to open fire that triggered the clashes, he said.
“Those who hurled cocktails on police did not look like Hefajat men. They might be the activists of Jamaat and Shibir,” he said.

News clip from Shomoy TV



https://www.youtube.com/watch?featur...&v=4x-Z-gZYpAw

More in Daily Star

[Blah]

As I said before I have no sympathy for these people. I wouldn't even lose any sleep if they are shot at will. Saw the result of the carnage with my own eyes today.

Arrest them, kill them, whatever. Get rid of the garbage. No place for these kind of people in our society.

[HereWeGo]

As much as the people of Bangladesh (including myself) would love a third party (preferably led by Dr Yunus) to come to power, but unfortunately we do not have that choice. We are forced to make our choice amongst the two (two evils)... As the next election is near, I hope you choose wisely...

[Dhurr]

THIS is our third party - the third force everybody has been moaning for. Hefazot-e-Rajakar is our third party. Congrats, everyone.

[PoorFan]

Every single person who supports Hefazot-e-Islam should be hanged. No ands, ifs or buts.

@Dhurr, watch your language. Understand its an unbearable moment but no need to go rampage just like them. Consider it as an warning.

-Mod

[Blah]

Originally Posted by Dhurr
THIS is our third party - the third force everybody has been moaning for. Hefazot-e-Rajakar is our third party. Congrats, everyone.

No, I think its quite clear that this was the response to AL's manufactured Shahbagh movements. BNP and Jamat decided to start their own manufactured movement.

These so-called movements were extension of the existing parties. This is not a third party.

[HereWeGo]

Originally Posted by PoorFan
The numbers are increasing in local media too.

Some law enforcing agency personnel died in the clash... It is sad that people have so little respect for these police/BGB officers.

[mufi_02]

HI should not have done oborodh now in the first place. The country was still recovering from Savar tragedy and govt and private sectors needed to do image repair to save the industry. And in this very crucial time, they had to do their 13 dofa. This was not done in the best interest of the country.

Today, there was two headlines about Bangladesh. The first obviously about slavery and garment industry and this oborodh and so many people killed. Now why would a foreign company invest in BD?

[HereWeGo]

Originally Posted by mufi_02
HI should not have done oborodh now in the first place. The country was still recovering from Savar tragedy and govt and private sectors needed to do image repair to save the industry. And in this very crucial time, they had to do their 13 dofa. This was not done in the best interest of the country.

Today, there was two headlines about Bangladesh. The first obviously about slavery and garment industry and this oborodh and so many people killed. Now why would a foreign company invest in BD?

Any sane person would have never made those 13 point demands in the first place

I am more concerned about the contents of the demand than the timing......

[PoorFan]

More bodies in the line.

Monday, May 06, 2013

HEFAJAT-COP CLASH
4 Hefajat men killed in Hathazari



Star Online Report

Activists of Hefajat-e Islam block a road at Hathazari of Chittagong during a clash with law enforcers on Monday. At least four people were killed in the clash. Photo: STAR


At least four Hefajat-e Islam activists were killed and 30, including five policemen, injured when activists of the Islamist group clashed with police in Hathazari upazila of Chittagong on Monday.

Of the bullet-hit victims, Abu Noman, Anwar Zahed and Mamun died on the spot while Jasim succumbed to his injuries at a local hospital, according to police and hospital sources.

Hefajat men locked in clashes with police in the morning.
The situation worsened around 3:30pm.

The law enforcers opened fire as the clash took a deadly turn, Liakat Ali, officer-in-charge of Hathazari Police Station told The Daily Star in the evening.

More in Daily Star

[Banglatiger84]

Originally Posted by HereWeGo
Some law enforcing agency personnel died in the clash... It is sad that people have so little respect for these police/BGB officers.

If these same Law agency personnel kill people like flies, dont expect friends of the killed people to have respect for them.
Most of us are commenting from our homes, if there indeed was a massacre as HEI are claiming, then the police will face such backlash.

[Banglatiger84]

Originally Posted by mufi_02
HI should not have done oborodh now in the first place. The country was still recovering from Savar tragedy and govt and private sectors needed to do image repair to save the industry. And in this very crucial time, they had to do their 13 dofa. This was not done in the best interest of the country.

Today, there was two headlines about Bangladesh. The first obviously about slavery and garment industry and this oborodh and so many people killed. Now why would a foreign company invest in BD?

The timing was bad, as was some of the "points".

But nothing justifies the way their activists were killed by police/BAL Activists, which is what made the event the BBC's main world news item.

[HereWeGo]

Originally Posted by Banglatiger84
If these same Law agency personnel kill people like flies, dont expect friends of the killed people to have respect for them.
Most of us are commenting from our homes, if there indeed was a massacre as HEI are claiming, then the police will face such backlash.

They also claimed to see Sayeedee in Moon... Go Figure...

[mufi_02]

And as much as I dislike Hasina, she did reached out to Khaleda few days ago and proposed open dialogue. No doubt Khaleda has influence over OR has been influenced by HI. She should have accepted Hasina's request and sat down with her. But the fact that they she rejected shows she wanted chaos down the road.

Haire, only for some power people can become so low. What do Hasina/Khaleda lack? They had their fair share of power. They have influence over millions of chamchas. They have so much money that their 14 generation will be well off. But only thing they lack is respect. And the only thing they are looking for is not power but the illusion of it.

[Banglatiger84]

Originally Posted by HereWeGo
They also claimed to see Sayeedee in Moon... Go Figure...

Irrelevant.

All signs indicate a massacre, I just watched a video of police shooting and killing workers in cold blood.

[Banglatiger84]

Originally Posted by mufi_02
And as much as I dislike Hasina, she did reached out to Khaleda few days ago and proposed open dialogue. No doubt Khaleda has influence over OR has been influenced by HI. She should have accepted Hasina's request and sat down with her. But the fact that they she rejected shows she wanted chaos down the road.

Haire, only for some power people can become so low. What do Hasina/Khaleda lack? They had their fair share of power. They have influence over millions of chamchas. They have so much money that their 14 generation will be well off. But only thing they lack is respect. And the only thing they are looking for is not power but the illusion of it.

They all want chaos when they are not in power, remember Hasina in 2006? When in power they act as guardians of law and order.

BNP has been acting more and more shamelessly in recent times; trying to piggyback on JI/HEI for the sake of power will only make them more irrelevant in the grand scheme of things

[HereWeGo]

Originally Posted by Banglatiger84
Irrelevant.

All signs indicate a massacre, I just watched a video of police shooting and killing workers in cold blood.

And how about the law enforcing agency personnels that died? Did they commit suicide? Is that irrelevant too?

Ask yourself, who instigated this violence? Did the video also show these men destroying public and private properties or was police responsible for that also... What do you expect the law enforcing agency to do if these men were about to set fire to your office or your car?

[Kana-Baba]

Originally Posted by Banglatiger84

Irrelevant.

All signs indicate a massacre, I just watched a video of police shooting and killing workers in cold blood.

The law enforcement agencies claim that they have used rubber bullets, sound grenades, and tear gas shells mostly and their intention was to drive the people away than killing them (I am referring only night time operation, not the entire day).

Think sensibly and rationally, what would be their motive to kill so many people? Not looking for biased or partisan logic. I want you to come up with logical explanation.

And also I would like to know what else the GOVT could have done to solve the HI movement, specially when GOVT have already asked them to leave after the Meeting?