Nationwide violence condemned

Different political and socio-cultural organisations have lambasted yesterday's Jamaat-Shibir attacks on journalists and law enforcers in different parts of the country, including those in front of Baitul Mokarram mosque in the capital.
The main opposition BNP, however, censured police and armed cadres of ruling Awami League, Jubo League and Chhatra League for attacks on journalists and leaders of 12-likeminded Islamist parties.
In a statement, BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir expressed deep concern over some bloggers' demand to arrest Amar Desh acting editor Mahmudur Rahman within 24 hours.
He also demanded unconditional release of all detained leaders and workers of Jamaat and Shibir.
Meanwhile, various political organisations in different statements called upon people to build social resistance against the Jamaat-Shibir anarchy launched in the name of "protecting Islam".
They also demanded that the government punish the perpetrators behind the attacks and ban the "destructive" politics of Jamaat.
Talking to reporters after visiting injured journalists at Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Information Minister Hasanul Haque Inu yesterday came down heavily on the Jamaat-Shibir mayhem.
"After today's violence, I believe, it is high time that Jamaat-Shibir politics was banned in the country," he said in an instant reaction.
Meanwhile, at an emergency meeting in AL President Sheikh Hasina's political office in Dhanmondi yesterday around 7:00pm, Awami League-led 14-party alliance alleged that Jamaat-Shibir had unleashed countrywide simultaneous attacks on police and journalists with the direct patronisation of the main opposition BNP and its chairperson Khaleda Zia.
The meeting, chaired by AL presidium member Mohammad Nasim, observed that Jamaat-Shibir men had used mosques to launch the attacks across the country.
The ruling alliance will stage countrywide demonstrations today protesting yesterday's violence by Jamaat-Shibir.
In another statement, Workers' Party of Bangladesh said the Jamaat-Shibir activists had carried out anarchy on a Friday, the day when Muslims go to mosques to offer the Juma prayers. It proved their stance against Islam, it added.
Communist party of Bangladesh, Samajtantrik Dal, Jaitya Mukti Council, Progressive Islamic Alliance, Sommilito Sangskritik Jote, Krishibid Institute, Bangladesh, and Democratic Left Alliance also blasted the Jamaat-Shibir aggression.
Prime Ministers' Special Assistant Mahbubul Hoque Shakil also condemned the attacks on Journalists.