NN Online:
Thousands of Hefazat-e-Islam leaders and activists gathered at Dhaka’s historic Suhrawardy Udyan on Saturday morning for a pre-announced grand rally, aimed at pressing their five-point charter of demands. Chief among these is the immediate withdrawal of around 300 legal cases pending against their leaders and activists.
The rally officially began at 9:00 AM and is scheduled to continue until 1:00 PM. Participants from various districts began arriving at the venue as early as 5:00 AM, and within two hours, the grounds were filled with several thousand supporters.
Other key demands include justice for those killed during the May 5, 2013 Shapla Chattar crackdown, the protests against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit in March 2021, and the reported fatalities during demonstrations in July–August 2024.
The group also called for the cancellation of the proposed women’s rights reform commission, and voiced strong opposition to what they termed as the ongoing persecution of Muslims in Palestine and India.
Prior to the rally, Hefazat activists held a procession near Baitul Mukarram Mosque, chanting slogans and urging citizens to join the event in support of Islam and justice.
Law enforcement agencies have implemented heightened security measures throughout the capital, deploying both uniformed and plainclothes officers at key locations.
