'Protesters' activities anti-Islamic'

Leaders of Gausul Azam Maizbhandari Parishad yesterday blasted Islami Ain Bastabayan Committee (IABC) for creating anarchic situation in the country on April 4 in the name of protesting the women development policy.
The organisation leaders at a press conference at the city's Jatiya Press Club said anti-Islamic behaviour of Mufti Fazlul Haq Amini and other leaders of IABC (Islamic law implementation committee) were revealed on the hartal day as they caused sufferings to the country's people.
They also demanded exemplary punishment who were involved in creating anarchic situation on the hartal day.
“Through looting and oppression, they have [leaders and activists of [IABC] established themselves as the followers of an inhuman and anti-Islamic character Ejid,” Syed Saifuddin Ahmed Maizbhandari, secretary general of Maizbhandari parishad told the briefing.
Creating anarchic situation and sufferings for people are considered as the most heinous activities in Islam. Amini and his followers have done such heinous activities on the hartal day,” Ahmed added.
He said the government has assured us that there is nothing anti-Islamic elements in the women development policy. And we believe in that.
If there is any confusion about the women development policy, the government should eliminate those confusions by sitting with different Islamic scholars,” Najibul Bashor Maizbhandari, said President of Maizbhandari parishad.

RIGHTS ACTIVISTS
Meanwhile, women's rights activists yesterday criticised fundamentalists for opposing the women development policy.
If they (religious groups) read the policy for once, they would not oppose it. Thus, they are creating anarchies without understanding it at all, they opined.
They made the remarks at a memorial meeting organised by Steps Towards Development (Steps) on the first death anniversary of Bela Nabi at Chhayanat Sanskritik Bhaban in the city.
Executive Director of Ain O Salish Kendra Advocate Sultana Kamal, Adviser of Bangladesh Mahila Parishad Selina Khalek, Advocate Masuda Akhter Laily, Laxmi Chakrabarti spoke at the meeting with Executive Director of Steps Ranjan Karmakar was in the chair.
Recalling Bela Nabi's life and contributions in different fields, the discussants said she participated in all women movements spontaneously for establishing their rights in the society.