Hefajat threatens tougher movement if govt hinders tomorrow’s hartal

The Joint Secretary General of Hefajat-e-Islam Mamunul Haque today threatened tougher movement if the government tries to hinder tomorrow's nationwide hartal.

Mamunul Haque, also said that "government has stained Bangladesh's Independence Day by killing activists of the party" during yesterday's protest.

"The deaths of Hefajat activists will be avenged. Government must compensate their families as well," he said during a protest in Baitul Mukarram area today.

He urged supporters of the party to observe hartal tomorrow.

More than three thousand activists under the banner of Hefajat-e-Islam gathered near Baitul Mukarram protesting Indian Prime Minister Modi's visit to Bangladesh and yesterday's police action in Dhaka, Chattogram and Brahmanbaria.

Mamunul during the protest programme urged police to act as the protector of people instead of serving any political party.

The government has deployed Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) members in Dhaka including other parts of the country to control law and order situation.

Police has ramped up security measures around the national mosque and surrounding areas centering the protest programme. Members of Rapid Action Battalion were also seen patrolling the area.