Islamist groups up the ante over Bhola deaths

Different Islamist groups across Bangladesh have raised various demands over the killing of four people in Bhola during protests over a social media post "insulting" the Prophet Muhammad (SM).

They announced individual protest programmes to press home their demands, including arrest and punishment of police personnel and administration officials involved in the killing.

All Party Muslim Unity Council in Bhola, Hefazat-e-Islam in Chattogram and Islami Andolan in Dhaka and various other groups today organised separate press conferences to announce their ultimatums.

All Party Muslim Unity Council demands capital sentence to anyone insulting Islam

Among them, All Party Muslim Unity Council, in the southern district of the country, placed their six-point charter of demands, including the passing of a law incorporating capital punishment to anyone mocking and insulting Islam.

In a written statement, the party leaders also demanded death sentence of the key suspect, Biplob Chandra Shuvo, removal of Bhola police chief and Borhanuddin officer-in-charge, compensation to the families of the deceased, treatment of the injured, release of the detained people and a proper investigation into the case.

The Unity called protest rallies and processions at all upazilas of Bhola on October 22, a human chain on October 24 and a prayer assembly in remembrance of the deceased on October 25.

Unity Convener Maulana Bashir Uddin, secretary Maulana Tajuddin and other leaders spoke at the conference.

Hefazat to hold countrywide protest rally tomorrow 

In Chattogram's Hathazari Darul Ulum Moinul Islam Madrasa, Hefazat Secretary General Junaid Babunagari announced they will hold protest rallies and processions in all districts and upazilas tomorrow.

"Police opened fire on a peaceful procession of local people who were protesting a derogatory remark against Prophet Muhammad (SM), leaving four dead and hundreds injured," said Babunagari.

"We demand investigation into the incident and punishment of police officials who were involved, compensation to the families of the deceased, bearing of costs by the government for treatment of the injured and revoking all cases against the people," the Hefazat leader added.

The Hefazat leader also demanded death penalty for Biplab Chandra who allegedly posted a comment on Facebook hurting Islamic sentiment.

"Our probe committee found Biplob's account was not hacked… Such an incident could be averted if the government would meet our 13-point demands," the Hefazat leader said.

The Cox's Bazar unit of the Hefazat also brought out a protest march in the afternoon that paraded the main thoroughfares, which ended at the IBP Road Chattor at Bazarghata.

Moulana Hafez Salamotullah, Hefatzat's district vice president and district ameer of Nizam-e-Islam, presided over the programme.

Islami Andolan threatens tougher programme

Meanwhile, Islami Andolan yesterday staged a demonstration in front of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque on similar demands. They also threatened to launch a tougher agitation programme.

The Islamist political party will hold a nationwide protest programme coming Friday over the incident, announced Islami Andolan Nayeb-e-Ameer Mufti Faizul Karim.

Faizul Karim said this is not for the first time offensive remarks have been made against Prophet Muhammad (SM) and Islam. "But the government did not take action in any previous case. As a result, such incidents are recurring."

He also questioned police's claim that the Facebook ID of Shuvo was hacked. "How could they [police] give confirmation [about ID hacking] before an investigation?"

Besides, more than a hundred students of Jamia Rahmania Arabia Madrasa brought out processions in Dhaka's Mohammadpur today, demanding investigation into the Bhola violence.

But the rally was peaceful and students returned to the madrasa after marching for a few minutes, said Shibli Noman, assistant commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (Mohammadpur Zone).

Protests in other districts

In Brahmanbaria, students of Jamia Islamia Yunusiar Madrasa brought out a procession with the demand of a thorough probe into the incident. The procession ended in front of Brahmanbaria Press Club after parading through the main roads of the town.

They placed a six-point demand that include suspension of Bhola police superintendent and officer-in-charge of Borhanuddin police station.

In Barishal, Islamic scholars organised a protest rally to condemn the killing of four people in Bhola.

Around 3pm today, they placed a 7-point charter of demand, including punishment to the responsible persons in the Borhanuddin violence.

Different Islamic leaders and scholars of the city were present at the rally.

In Narayanganj, the Olama Parishad and Islami Front organised a human chain and a protest, while another protest march was brought out at Ishwarganj in Mymensingh on Monday afternoon.

Besides, Jashore Zilla Imam Parishad organised a protest in the city, demanding death sentence to Shuvo.

Police fired in self-defence: Home minister

Meanwhile, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Kamal today said police fired on the agitated people in Bhola in their self-defence.

Expressing deep sorrow over the incident and the death of four people, the minister said, "We will ask the Facebook authority to look into the hacked ID and then take actions accordingly." He also gave assurance that the culprits will be brought to book.

While talking to media at his secretariat office, he also said law enforcement agencies were on alert to avoid any untoward situation there.

On Sunday, four people were killed and hundreds injured in Bhola's Borhanuddin upazila in clashes between police and local people. The local people were demonstrating for punishment of a youth who, they claimed, had hurt their religious sentiment in a Facebook post.