B’baria still reeling from Hefajat havoc

The music academy of legendary musician Ustad Alauddin Khan is situated just 150 metres off Brahmanbaria Sadar Model Police Station.

Even days ago, the academy, established in 1956, used to buzz with music, dance, fine arts and daylong adda. 

But everything changed on Sunday.

Supporters of Hefajat-e-Islam vandalised and torched the ages-old academy while unleashing a mayhem across the district during their hartal that day.

Now, what remains of the academy is its wrecked structure. Everything inside has been ravaged.

There is debris everywhere. A signboard, reading "Sur Samrat Alauddin Sangeetangon", however, is still found hanging outside the main gate.

Speaking to The Daily Star, Manzurul Alam, general secretary of the institution, said, "We had some rare photos and collection of music of the maestro [Alauddin Khan], but all those have been damaged."

The hartal supporters did not spare the museum, classrooms, a stage called Sarod Mancha, administrative offices, musical instruments, and furniture of the academy.

A high-level police team, led by Inspector General of Police Benazir Ahmed, visited the academy yesterday. These correspondents, while accompanying the IGP, found burnt smell in the air. 

The police team also visited the Sadar Land Office, the public library, Brahmanbaria press club, police lines and Sadar model police station, which were also attacked during the mayhem.

Expressing anger at the attackers, the IGP asked," Why the state establishments are being attacked time and again? Are they against the state that is Bangladesh?"

He was talking with reporters at the Brahmanbaria Press Club after inspecting the spot.

He said, "We see such horrible attacks happening in Brahmanbaria almost every year. Hathazari is also being attacked in the same way. State properties are being destroyed repeatedly. Is their position against the state?

"What have we achieved in the last 50 years? Repeatedly, communal groups are attacking the non-communal Bangladesh, which was liberated by the supreme sacrifice of 30 lakh martyrs," he went on.

He said land offices in Brahmanbaria and Chattogram's Hathazari have been set on fire. "It is not certain whether this record system can be restored in the next 50 years. Thousands of people will suffer."

The police chief also said the people of Bangladesh traditionally follow their own religion. Those who are in the "business of religion", have two characters. They conduct waaz and procession with sticks, he said.

"We now need to understand the difference between the true religious people and those who do business over religion," said the IGP.

He said, "I want to make it clear to the people of Brahmanbaria that 18 crore Bangladeshis are with you. Together we can overcome fear."

Many inhabitants have left the district town after the mayhem They did not come back home as police were yet to arrest the perpetrators.

N Hefajat leaders were named in the 18 cases filed with different police stations of the districts in last the three days.

Talking with The Daily Star, Kabita Akter, a housewife living the district's Banikpara area, said, "We have seen people setting fire to motorbikes, houses and vandalising different establishments. We pass every moment in fear. We came to our village in Akharua so that we can sleep well and live safely."

Monir Hossain, director of Titas Abritti Parishad, said "We had seen a similar mayhem in 2016 but no action was taken."

On January 12, 2016, several hundred madrasa students vandalised eight to ten establishments, including Ustad Alauddin music academy. Around 12 cases were filed but the investigations in those cases are yet to see any light.

While addressing the media, IGP Benazir yesterday said people in Brahmanbaria have the right to stay safe.

"We will ensure it. Those who have video clips and pictures of the attacks should provide us with them. File cases and we will take action," he said.

Regarding the previous cases' investigation, he said they would look into those.

Asked why no Hefajat men were named in the new cases, the IGP said attempts were being made to identify those involved in the incident by going through video footage.

"Once identified, legal actions will be taken against each of them," he said.

MORE CASES FILED

At least 11 new cases have been filed so far in connection with the destruction carried out by Hefajat activists in Brahmanbaria. With this, the total number of cases rose to 18.

Over 15,000 people were made accused in the cases, OC of Special Branch of Brahmanbaria District Police, Mohammad Imtiaz Ahmed, confirmed to The Daily Star.

So far, 21 people were arrested in connection with the cases, the police officer said.

Among the arrestees, 18 were picked up by sadar police while three by Ashuganj police, district police control room said.

Clashes involving Hefajat left 12 people, including a 14-year-old boy, dead in Brahmanbaria from March 26 to 28.

Families of the victims are yet to file any cases.

Meanwhile, a team of Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the police has started collecting evidence from the places of violence.

Officials said that on March 29 and 30, CID's crime scene and forensic team collected various clues by inspecting 37 spots in Brahmanbaria Sadar, Sarail and Ashuganj upazilas.

Shahriar Rahman, superintendent of police of Brahmanbaria CID, said, "Evidence collected from the scenes will be examined with the permission of the court. It will be checked whether place were burnt with petrol or something else."