Leave Motijheel, AL tells Hifazat

The Awami League has again asked Hifazat-e Islam to leave Motijheel where they staged a rally after Dhaka blockade.

“Please refrain from destructive activities if you (Hifazat activists) are respectful to the religion, Please leave (Motijheel),” senior Awami League Mohammad Nasim told a press conference on Sunday night

The radical organisation has started a sit-in demonstration in the capital’s commercial hub after they secured permission only for a rally there.

The press conference took place within five hours of Awami League’s General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam issuing warning to the organisation, believed to be backed by Jamaat-e-Islami, to leave the place.

“No anarchy will be tolerated,” Ashraf told a press conference earlier.

The ruling party’s spokesperson told the Chittagong-based Islamic radicals to not mistake the government’s magnanimity for weakness.

“This time we allowed you to come to Dhaka, next time you will not be able to come (Dhaka) or even come out of your homes,” he said.

Nasim also announced that his party will stage a rally at 3pm in front of his party headquarters at Bangabandhu Avenue protesting against the mayhem unleashed in the capital by the activists of Hifazat.

He also urged the people of the capital to join the rally.

“We had permitted them (Hifazat) to stage the programme considering every organisation’s right to stage rallies. But Hifazat has abused that.”

The former Home Minister also slated Hifazat for setting on fire the Quran at Baitul Mukarram, House Building, CPB headquarters.

He castigated BNP Chairperson as she had directed her party activists to rally beside the Hifazat supporters.

Nasim alleged several people got stuck in the buildings in Motijheel.