Remark on Sculpture: Hefajat leader skips event in Ctg amid protests
Ruling party men take to streets to bar him from attending it
Hundreds of Bangladesh Chhatra League leaders and activists took to the streets in Chattogram to prevent Hefajat leader Mamunul Haque from attending an event in Hathazari in the evening today.
Mamunul, joint secretary general of Hefajat e Islam, angered many after reportedly speaking against the sculptures of Bangabandhu.
He didn't attend the event "for the sake of peace", Hefajat chief Junaid Babunagari said.
Law enforcers remained vigilant in the upazila to maintain law and order.
Several hundred BCL leaders and activists went to Airport Road in Patenga around 10:00am. At a rally held there, Mohiuddin Bachchu, convener of Chattogram City Jubo League, said Mamunul would be resisted in Chattogram.
Chittagong University BCL activists kept Chattogram-Hathazari road blocked by burning tyres for half an hour from 10:30am while BCL men from Chattogram district north demonstrated at Oxygen intersection in the afternoon.
Earlier on Thursday, BCL leaders and activists held a rally in front of Chattogram Press Club, vowing to resist Mamunul in Chattogram.
The three-day mahfil Mamunul was going to attend was organised by Al Amin Sangstha on the premises of Hathazari Parbati Model Government High School.
Zakaria Dastagir, general secretary of Chattogram city BCL, told The Daily Star in the morning that Mamunul was trying to create anarchy in the country through his speech.
Tanvir Hossain Topu, president of Chattogram district (north) BCL, told The Daily Star that their leaders and activists would remain in different places to keep Mamunul from entering Hathazari.
BCL sources said their central committee leaders asked them to avoid engaging in clashes anywhere.
Meanwhile, Junaid Babunagari said government officials had contacted Hefajat over the unrest. "We told them that we are in favour of maintaining pace and order."
He said, "A quarter tore Mamunul's picture and burnt his effigy despite knowing that Mamunul would not join the mahfil. It is our earnest request to the government to bring the perpetrators under the purview of law and bring them to book."
He added that the prime minister said the country would be run according to the Madina Sanad. "We appreciate it. There is no room for sculptures in a country [run by] Madina Sanad. Sculpture, no matter of whom…. we would take it down and smash."