‘Jamaat-Shibir in Hifazat’s plan’

Police says several ‘cadres’ of Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Chhatra Shibir are going to take part in Hifazat-e Islam’s Dhaka siege on Sunday.

The law keepers say that the Jamaat-Shibir ‘cadres’ may try to create trouble, said DMP’s Joint-Commissioner (DB) Monirul Islam on Saturday.

“We have information on cadres of Jamaat-Shibir who were preparing to join Hifazat’s rally," Islam told reporters a day before the Hifazat's siege."We have taken appropriate measures."

Police will not obstruct if the protest is peaceful, he said.

But stern action will be taken under the penal code if any crime is committed, he warned.

“Dhaka Metropolitan Police is preparing for Hifazat’s siege by working in coordination with law keepers in neighbouring districts like Narayanganj, Gazipur and also with Dhaka District Police,” DMP Deputy Commissioner (Media) Masudur Rahman told bdnews24.com.

Hifazat had staged a massive rally in Motijheel’s Shapla Chattar on Apr 6 to press for their 13 point charter of demands that includes prohibition of men and women mixing in public and maximum penalty for online bloggers.

Sunday’s blockade was announced from their rally staged in Dhaka last month.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had urged the radical outfit to call off their blockade on Friday claiming their demands were being and will continue to be met.

Hifazat shot into limelight by opposing the Ganajagaran Mancha which wants a ban on Jamaat-e-Islami and death penalty for convicted war criminals.

They have said they will position themselves on six entry points to Dhaka -- Jatrabari to Kachpur bridge and Demra Bridge, Potogola Buriganga Bridge, Old Dhaka Babubazar Bridge, Abdullahpur-Tongi Bridge and Aminbazar’s Baliyapur.