Babunagari to remain chief of Hefazat-e-Islam

Junaid Babunagari and his cousin Nurul Islam Jihadi will continue to lead Hefazat-e-Islam's new central committee, which is likely to be announced on Monday.

The committee, consisting of 35-37 members, is set to be announced in a press conference at the temporary headquarters of the Islamist group's secretary-general in the Khilgaon area of the capital.

Members of the newly formed committee did not possess any political identity or affiliation as group policymakers had decided to include no one with affiliation to any political party in the central committee this time, sources said.

The previous committee was disbanded on April 25. Hefazat announced the formation of a convening committee a few hours later where Junaid Babunagari, his uncle Muhibullah Babunagari, and his cousin Nurul Islam were selected as chief advisors.

A number of prominent leaders of Hefazat-e-Islam have recently been arrested in connection with a violence that broke out protesting the visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Bangladesh. The countrywide incident claimed at least 17 lives.