40 Hefajat men remanded

This photo, taken Monday morning, shows Hefajat-e Islam activists who were herded at a place in Motijheel after security forces’ overnight operation in the area. Photo: Focus Bangla

A Dhaka court on Tuesday placed 40 Hefajat-e Islam activists on a two-day police remand for interrogation in connection with Sunday's violence at Ramna and Shahbagh areas in the capital.

There is no leader among the 40 remanded, our court correspondent reported, identifying them as grassroots workers.

The law enforcers arrested the Hefajat men from different parts of the capital Sunday night after the deadly violence following the post-blockade rally at Shapla Chattar.

The Islamist group was demonstrating to press home its 13-point demand, which capital punishment for blasphemy and arrest and punishment of “atheist bloggers”.

Police produced the 40 before the court of Metropolitan Magistrate Md Ismail Hossain Tuesday morning with a seven-day remand prayer to interrogate them.

The court granted two-day remand for each.