Police rubbish killing claims in Motijheel

Police have rubbished speculations about ‘thousands’ of Hifazat-e Islam supporters being killed during the pre-dawn drive in capital’s Motijheel.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police on Wednesday said during the Hifazat’s rally, plots were made to attack several financial institutions in the commercial hub Motijheel, including the Secretariat and Bangladesh Bank.

Police also claimed there were zero casualties during the drive.

They were planning to attack even the Secretariat in National Press Club area on Monday morning, DMP Commissioner Benzir Ahmed said in a press conference on Wednesday. “On getting this information, police, RAB and BGB conducted the joint drive.”

On Sunday, after a successful Dhaka siege programme in the morning, the Hifazat were allowed to hold a rally in Motijheel’s Shapla Chattar. Soon violence broke out in nearby areas of Paltan, Bijoy Nagar and Gulistan.

In a late night drive, law enforcers drove out Hifazat supporters of Shapla Chattar in a matter of 15 minutes.

The BNP and Hifazat claimed the raid caused thousands of casualties. Widespread publicity was also made about the claim over the internet.

The drive was conducted to save people from chaos and large-scale destruction, Benzir Ahmed said on Wednesday. “The weapons we used were not lethal.”

He said teargas, water cannons, sound grenades and rubber bullets were used to move the radical protesters out.

After the drive, four bodies wrapped in shrouds and polythene were recovered from Shapla Chattar premises and three others were found in nearby areas – none of whom were killed during the drive, he said. Hifazat hacked one policeman to death.

Earlier, until Sunday afternoon, three people were killed.

The Commissioner said claims of thousands being killed were ‘false’ and solicited more information, if any, on dead bodies apart from those he had mentioned.

“The devastation unleashed by Hifazat activists created fear and panic among the people. The city’s fear increased with the nightfall.”

“Some political parties were conspiring to create chaos at the (Hifazat) rally. One such party ordered their activists to create anarchy in Dhaka and in several other districts.”

The Motijheel drive was conducted to save the people from this chaos and mass devastation, he said.

Benzir mentioned that Hifazat were given escape routes through southern and eastern parts of the area. The drive was conducted from north and the west.

When asked if the decision to allow Hifazat to stage a rally in the capital came from good judgement, he said, “There are two reasons behind the permission granted to Hifazat. We considered their democratic rights and paid heed to the religious sentiments of Bangladesh.”

“They made numerous requests to get the permission for the 2pm rally and even shortened the time for their Dhaka siege. Their representatives told us that huzur Shafi will disperse the gathering after conducting prayers.”

The DMP Commissioner was asked if authorities allowed Hifazat the rally purely based on ‘emotions’ despite chances of acts of sabotage.

“Huzurs (clerics) don’t lie. We (Bangaldeshis) give Salam and give respect to even a 14-year old Huzur.”

The Dhaka City police chief answered queries about the alleged media restrictions during the night drive. “Many who are present in this briefing were also present in the operation. Therefore, why should this issue be raised!”

Benzir said the Hifazat gathering became illegal after the supporters transgressed the time limit – until Sunday evening – they were granted.

However, the Commissioner did not provide an answer when asked why ‘Ganajagaran Mancha’ at Shahbagh was demolished.