Hefajat says 'no', pictures say 'yes'

From March 26 to 28, Hefajat-e-Islam activists attacked and vandalised 58 government and non-government institutions, two temples, and houses and offices of top leaders of the district Awami League and Chhatra League in Brahmanbaria.

However, Hefajat is now denying its involvement in the attacks and vandalism. Although Hefajat is saying "no", it is clear from photos, videos, and media reports that they were involved in these incidents.

On April 5, Hefajat's district president and central Nayeb-e-Amir Sajedur Rahman, at a press briefing in Brahmanbaria Press Club, claimed that no leader or activist of their organisation was involved in the violence. Rather their programmes were disrupted by the violence, he said.

The district police said mass destruction and violence were carried out in Brahmanbaria under the leadership of Hefajat-e-Islam. They turned the whole of Brahmanbaria into a place of destruction through extensive vandalism and arson attack on public and private establishments.

On March 29, a day after the violence in Brahmanbaria, district Awami League President and local MP Obaidul Muktadir Chowdhury and General Secretary Al Mamun Sarkar, at a press briefing said, "Hefajat must take responsibility for all the incidents."

Photo: STAR/Masuk Hridoy

However, these two top leaders of the ruling party's district branch also blamed the inaction of the police and district administration for the attacks, vandalism, and arson.

"After a clash between police and madrasa students at Hathazari in Chattogram, a group of madrasa students in Brahmanbaria carried out widespread violence in the city on March 26. It is as clear as daylight that madrasa students took part in the vandalism under the banner of Hefajat-e-Islam," district Awami League General Secretary Al Mamun Sarkar told The Daily Star.

"Those who carry out terrorist activities can never be the leaders or activists of Hefajat. On the day of the strike, Hefajat leaders were stationed only in front of Jamia Yunusiya Madrasa. None of us took part in vandalism. On the contrary, our programme was hampered due to the vandalism," Hefajat-e-Islam district unit President Maulana Sajedur Rahman told this correspondent.

"We are arresting Hefajat activists and supporters involved in the mayhem. Police are identifying the culprits by going over videos and stills captured during the violence," Brahmanbaria Additional Superintendent of Police (Admin and Crime) Rais Uddin told this newspaper.

Photo: STAR/Masuk Hridoy

Hefajat-e-Islam activists in Dhaka and Chattogram, as well as Brahmanbaria city, Sarail and Ashuganj upazilas, went on a rampage on March 26-28 in protest of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Bangladesh.

At that time, Hefajat activists clashed with police in different parts of the city and in the Sarail Biswa Road area. Thirteen people, including a madrasa student, were shot dead. However, Hefajat claimed that the death toll was 17.