Hefazat threatens to make country standstill if demands not met
Staff Reporter :
Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh on Friday threatened to bring the country to a standstill if the government fails to meet their demands, including the immediate abolition of the recently formed Women’s Affairs Reform Commission and a ban on the political activities of the Awami League.
The warning came from the group’s Central Senior Vice President and Dhaka City unit President Junaid Al Habib during a protest rally held after Jummah prayers in front of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque. The rally drew hundreds of Hefazat followers and was closely watched by security personnel.
“Dhaka will be brought to a standstill by Saturday if our demands remain ignored,” Junaid declared from the podium. “You will meet the same fate as Hasina, who was ousted by a mass movement. You have until Saturday. If no decision comes by then, fire will engulf the country.”
Hefazat, a conservative Islamist platform, has made three key demands: abolish the Women’s Affairs Reform Commission, withdraw all cases filed against its leaders and activists, and prohibit any future political activities by the Awami League – a party the group continues to label as anti-Islamic and fascist.
Calling for a larger mobilisation, Junaid said, “Our brothers from across the country are already on their way. Forty-two buses are en route from Dinajpur, and nearly 4,500 supporters from Barishal are arriving by launch. Dhaka will see an Islamic resurgence tomorrow.”
He urged Hefazat followers to assemble at Suhrawardy Udyan after the Fajr prayer on Saturday, 3 May, and join in processions leading to a mass rally.
Speaking at the same event, Maulana Mohiuddin Rabbani, a central nayeb-e-ameer of the group, announced that Hefazat would issue a final ultimatum at Saturday’s gathering. “If our demands are not met within the specified timeframe, strict actions will follow,” he warned, without elaborating on the nature of those measures.
Echoing the sentiment, Maulana Sarwar Kamal Azizi, another senior leader, invoked the memory of the 2013 Shapla Chattar incident, saying, “Another Shapla Chattar is coming if the Women’s Affairs Reform Commission is not cancelled. We will continue this fight until this anti-Islamic body is abolished.”
The Friday rally was organised by Hefazat’s Paltan unit, with speeches from several senior leaders denouncing the commission and calling for greater Islamic governance in Bangladesh.
Following the rally, a protest procession led by Paltan unit President Maulana Salahuddin marched through the nearby streets, ended at the Bijoynagar intersection.