Mosques used again to incite public

Mosques have once again been used to announce ‘false arrest and attacks’ to incite locals during the Monday’s mayhem in Narayanganj and Hathazari in Chittagong, police say.

Uttam Sengupta and Mujibul Haque Palashbdnews24.com
Published : 7 May 2013, 03:01 PM
Updated : 7 May 2013, 03:03 PM

At least 20 people including paramilitary troopers have been killed in the clashes, a day after Hifazat-e Islami’s Dhaka siege programme.

Police believe Jamaat-e-Islami activists were behind that rampage.

“Hifazat men blocked Hathazari Sadar road for two days,” Chittagong Additional Police Superintendent Farid Uddin said, “When we tried to move them near Bara Madrasa (Jamiatul Ahlia Darul Ulum Muinul Islam Madrasa), they attacked us.”

“At that time, some mosques in the area announced that Shah Ahmad Shafi (the chief of Hifazat) has been arrested and madrasas are being vandalised,” he said as he recalled how the mayhem started.

The radical group has been demonstrating for a 13-point charter of demand apparently to turn Bangladesh’s secular culture into an islamist one where public mixing of men and women would be banned.

Mohammad Solaiman, father of Mamun who died in Monday’s clashes, gave a similar account.

He said his son went out hearing the announcement of attacks on madrasas.

Earlier, an anti-shutdown motorcade had been attacked spreading rumours using mosques microphones. After that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina instructed her Awami League party supporters to remain alert so that no one can ‘mislead’ people using mosque.

Islamic Foundation and police also said that they would take steps to prevent ‘misuse’ of mosque loudspeakers.

Witnesses and family of those killed in Narayanganj said similar announcements had been made from Madaninagar Madrasa before the clashes that killed at least 15 people.

Trader Abdul Alauddin, an eyewitness, told bdnews24.com that from the early Monday morning Hifazat leaders and activists were fought running battles with police.

“Suddenly someone announced from the Madaninagar Madrasa that the madrasa has been attacked….save us. Then locals attacked police.”

Abul Hossain who sells tea said he heard announcement of ‘resisting police’. Enamul Islam, son of a victim, said his father rushed to succour ‘Huzurs’ after the calls from the madrasa.

Narayanganj district Police Superintendent Syed Nurul Islam told bdnews24.com that when they were trying to disperse Hifazat activists who had blockaded roads, “there were repeated calls from the madrasa loudspeaker to attack us”.

“They were showering bricks from inside the madrasa and its roof. When we started marching towards Kanchpur bridge, they came out and attacked us.”