Islamist orgs stage protest

Islamist organisations stage demonstration in front of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque in the capital yesterday in protest of a US film mocking Prophet Hazrat Mohammad (pbuh).Photo: STAR

Expressing anger at a US film and a French weekly's cartoon mocking Prophet Hazrat Mohammad (pbuh), some Islamist organisations staged demonstrations in the capital's Paltan area after Juma prayers yesterday.
Hundreds of activists of the organisations, including Bangladesh Khelafat Andolan, Bangladesh Khelafat Chhatra Andolan, Chhatra Jamiat, Khelafat Chhatra Majlish and Isalmi Ain Bastabayan Committee, took part in the demonstrations.
They burnt US and French flags and a symbolic coffin and an effigy of the US president, brought out protest processions from Dainik Bangla intersection to Jatiya Press Club and threatened to seize the US embassy in Dhaka today.
Meanwhile Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) imposed a ban on holding rallies in Paltan, Baitul Mukarram National Mosque, Kakrail, Dainik Bangla intersection, Bijoynagar and adjacent areas from 5:00pm yesterday till further orders.
DMP Commissioner Benazir Ahmed, in a press release, said the ban was imposed as rallies called by two rival Islamist organisations, Sammilito Olama Mashayekh Parishad and 12 Islamist parties, at the same place today may lead to conflicts.
The crudely made video, filmed in California and circulated on the Internet under several titles including “Innocence of Muslims”, portrays the Prophet Mohammad engaged in crude and offensive behaviour.
The weekly, Charlie Hebdo, on Wednesday, published the cartoon which includes obscene images intended to represent Prophet Mohammad, as opposed to any other Muslim.