After a daylong countrywide shutdown, Hefazat-e-Islam on Sunday announced doa mahfil and demonstration programmes for Monday seeking justice for its activists killed during Friday and Saturday’s clashes with police.
“We’ll hold special prayers and stage nationwide protest on Monday,” Hefazat Secretary General Nurul Islam Zihadi announced at a press briefing in Dhaka.
The group is calling for punishing policemen involved in shooting incidents in Chattogram and Brahmanbaria during the group’s anti-Modi protests that left at least nine people dead, including a several Hefazat activists.
It is also pressing for the release of its supporters arrested during the clashes.
“We’ll intensify our agitation if our demands are not met within next Friday,” Zihadi said.
Hefazat called for the shutdown protesting against, what it called “police action” on their ‘anti-Modi’ processions in Dhaka, Chattogram and other districts.
The group also held nationwide demonstrations on Saturday during which clashes with police left at least five people dead in Brahmanbaria.
Sunday’s hartal ended with reports of sporadic clashes across the country.
On Friday, four people were killed and at least 15 others were injured in a clash between Hefazat supporters and police at Hathazari in Chattogram.
Police opened fire after a group of protestors attacked the Hathazari thana compound, Hathazari land office and set fire to a vehicle.
On the same day, at least 50 people, including several journalists, were injured in a clash between Muslim devotees and police in Baitul Mukarram National Mosque area.
Clashes erupted when police barred people from bringing out a procession after Jum’a prayers protesting against the visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Bangladesh.
