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| Bangladesh |
| Hefajat gears up for Dhaka siege tomorrow |
| 2013-05-04 |
| [Bangla Daily Star] The Hefajat-e Islam will lay siege to all seven entry points into the capital during its Dhaka blockade programme tomorrow to cut the city off from the rest of the country. Leaders of the Qawmi madrasa-based organisation said they were planning to ensure the presence of around one lakh Hefajat supporters at each entry point -- Gabtoli, Tongi, Postagola Bridge , Babubazar Bridge , Kanchpur and Demra bridge, Mawa and Abdullahpur. Apart from the Hefajat activists and supporters in Dhaka, around three lakh people from Chittagong, one lakh from Sylhet and 50,000 from Rajshahi will join the programme, hoped the leaders. The Islamist organisation has already hired at least 3,000 vehicles, including buses, trucks, and microbuses, to bring people to Dhaka . Besides, many will come by train. Though the Hefajat activists started arriving in the capital yesterday from different parts of the country, the majority of them will come in from today. Most of its senior leaders, including Ameer Shah Ahmad Shafi, will join the programme. Police have said they will not interfere with the Hefajat's programme if it is held peacefully. "If they [Hefajat men] hold their programme peacefully, we'll assist them. But if they create anarchy and commit any offence, we along with the people will resist them and take legal action," Masudur Rahman, deputy commissioner (public relations) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, told The Daily Star last night. The Hefajat had announced the blockade programme at its rally at the capital's Motijheel on April 6 to press home its 13-point demand, which included punishment to bloggers for "defaming" Islam and Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday called on the Hefajat leaders to withdraw their Dhaka blockade programme considering the ongoing rescue operation at the Rana Plaza collapse site at Savar. Asked about the PM's call, Mainuddin Ruhi, joint secretary general of the party, said the prime minister's statement was unexpected, confusing and false. "The government didn't meet any of our demands. The press conference was arranged to confuse the nation," he added. Yesterday, at a press conference at the Lalbagh Madrasa in the capital, Nur Hossain Kasemi, convenor of the Dhaka city unit of Hefajat-e Islam, said Hefajat activists would lay siege to the capital after Fajr prayers on Sunday. He vowed to make the programme a success. Several senior Hefajat leaders, however, complained that the government was already creating obstacles to foil their programme. They claimed that the government and activists of the ruling Awami League had been instructing transport owners not to rent their vehicles to Hefajat men. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #1 ammo up and give them a whiff of grapeshot. Shutterguns to the front! |
| Posted by: Frank G 2013-05-04 11:52 |