Hifazat leader Rahim Quasemi, who demanded action over violence, is arrested

The police have arrested a Hifazat-e Islam leader, who last month announced his resignation from the radical organisation citing violence unleashed by its activists during the celebrations 50 years of independence.

Abdur Rahim Quasemi, a member of the group’s recently dissolved central committee and joint general secretary of its Brahmanbaria District Unit, was detained from Brahmanbaria town’s Bhadughar area on Tuesday afternoon.

Rois Uddin, an additional superintendent of police, said investigation revealed Rahim Quasemi’s involvement with the recent mayhem and violence in 2016 in the district.

During the deadly violence on Mar 26 and Mar 28, a group of madrasa students vandalised and torched private and government establishments, including railway and police stations, and land office, in Brahmanbaria.

Rahim Quasemi called a press conference on Apr 23 but later sent a statement citing illness.

The “extreme chaos” following Hifazat’s call for protests against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit on 50 years of independence was “unprecedented” and “inhumane”, he said in the statement.

“I'm not involved with Hifazat-e Islam’s current activities. I consider their violent activities as illegal as per Sharia,” Quasemi said, calling for action against those, who instigated the violence.

The police have arrested hundreds of people in dozens of cases over the violence in Brahmanbaria. The law enforcers have accused more than 35,000 people and named 414 in the cases.