The detective branch of Dhaka Metropolitan Police has arrested Ahmad Abdul Quader, the central naib-e-amir of Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh. He is also the secretary general of the Khelafat Majlis, a partner of the BNP-Jamaat alliance.
He was arrested at Agargaon on Saturday evening, confirmed a DB’s Joint Commissioner Mahmub Alam. He said that a team from DB's Tejgaon division arrested him. There are also cases against him in connection with the Hefazat chaos at Shapla Chattar in 2013 and the recent violence.
So far, 19 central leaders of Hefazat-e-Islam were arrested in Dhaka.
Earlier, Mahbub Alam while talking to the reporters about the arrest and interrogation of the leaders of Hefazat-e-Islam at his office said that Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh formed a platform of islamic preachers called “Rabetatul Owaizin” to control waz mahfils across Bangladesh. The platform, formed with Hefazat leaders and activists, is trying to spread extremist thoughts and psyche among the masses through waz mahfils, a popular event among general people. He said that several cases were filed including Dhaka, on charges of sabotage. Of these, 12 cases have been filed in Dhaka.
Besides, 53 cases were filed over the incidents of violence and sabotage at Shapla Chattar rally of Hefazat in 2013. A total of 64 cases are under investigation. So far, DB police have arrested 14 central leaders of Hefazat-e-Islam. They are under interrogation, he said.
Mahbub said that a move to overthrow the government was taken through sabotage centring on the visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Hefazat leaders claim them to be a nonpolitical organisation but all its leaders are somehow involved with other political parties. Each of them has a different political agenda. They tried to implement those agendas under the cover of Hefazat, he added. Hefazat-e-Islam is an organisation that can mobilise madrasa students at once and such characteristics is used for political purposes. Hefazat leaders have made huge amount of money by presenting orphans and helpless masrassa students before donors.
Asked about secret marriage of Hefazat's joint secretary general Mamunul Haque, The DB joint commissioner said that the first marriage was legal. He later admitted to two marriages that were “contractual”.
