Hefajat men involved in violence now in key posts

Hefajat-e Islam leaders Maulana Sajidur Rahman and Mufti Mubarak Ullah, who were allegedly involved in the Brahmanbaria mayhem on March 26-28, have secured posts on the newly formed central committee of the Islamist organisation.

The 38-member central committee was announced in Dhaka on Monday.

Sajidur, president of Brahmanbaria district Hefajat-e Islam and also a former joint secretary general of the organisation, has been reinstated in the same position of the central committee and Mubarak, general secretary of Brahmanbaria district Hefajat, has been made the first member of the central committee, reports our Brahmanbaria correspondent.

Sajidur is the director of Jamia Darul Arqam Al Islamia Madrasa in West Medda area of Brahmanbaria town and Mubarak is the principal of Al Jamia Al Islamia Al Younusia Madrasa in Kandipara area of the district.

Leaders and activists of various socio-cultural and political organisations, including those of the ruling Awami League, have been demanding arrest of the two Hefajat leaders since March 26.

Sajidur and Mubarak went into "hiding" after criticism of Brahmanbaria violence from across the country.

However, Sajidur was seen at a press conference at Makhjanul Ulum Madrasa in the capital's Khilgaon on Monday during the announcement of the new central committee.

Awami League lawmaker RAM Obaidul Moktadir Chowdhury (Brahmanbaria-3) had filed a petition with Brahmanbaria Sadar Model Police Station under the Digital Security Act on May 1 against 16 people, including the two Hefazat leaders, on charges of committing cybercrime.

The police station recorded the petition as a general diary.

Supporters and activists of Hefajat carried out massive violence across Brahmanbaria on March 26-28 protesting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Bangladesh.

BFIU SEEKS BANK ACCOUNT DETAILS

Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) has sought details about the bank accounts of 44 Hefajat leaders, reports our staff correspondent.

Issuing a notice on May 2, the BFIU asked commercial banks to send the information to it in seven working days.

"Banks have been asked to give details of all the accounts belonging to those persons as part of a BFIU investigation to detect whether they are involved in money laundering and terrorist financing," an official told The Daily Star yesterday.

The 44 are leaders of different Hefajat units.

On March 31, the BFIU had sought bank account details of 24 leaders of different organisations, including Hefajat and 30 madrasas.

Officials said the Intelligence Unit has taken the initiative to look into the sources of funds of Islamist outfits.