Hefajat demands slammed

Around 400 Dhaka University teachers yesterday demanded punishment of Hefajat-e Islam for its stand against the spirit of the Liberation War and core ideals of the country.
"All 13 points of this organisation's demand clash with the core principles and spirit of Bangladesh. This is a blatant attempt to hinder the progress of Bangladesh," they said in a statement, urging the government not to give in to the radical Islamist group.
The academics said that under Jamaat-e-Islam and BNP's sponsorship, Hefajat was trying to obstruct the war crimes trial and take back the country into the middle ages.
Its demands also run counter to Islam's ideals, they said and asserted that "this country is open to all religions and thoughts".
Meanwhile, different socio-cultural, political and rights bodies demanded immediate arrest of the Hefajat activists who attacked journalists recently.
In a statement, Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad termed regrettable the assault on ETV reporter Nadia Sharmin during Hefajat's April 6 rally in the capital. He said female journalists often faced harassment. "This is not acceptable in a democracy."
The National Human Rights Commission and 18 former left-leaning student leaders also condemned the attack.
Jatiya Gonotantrik League rallied in front of Jatiya Pres Club to protest Hefajat's attacks on journalists and on a programme of Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee. In a statement, it also termed Hefajat's demands anti-constitutional.
Samprodayikota-Jongibad Birodhi Mancha said "the BNP-Jamaat quarters under the name of Hefajat-e Islam" attacked journalists on April 6.
It urged the government "to crush them [Hefajat] with an iron hand". It said their attack and threat presaged the dreadful Taliban rule.
Rallying in front of DU's Faculty of Fine Arts, Nagarik Sanghoti termed Hefajat's demands "an evil attempt to confine women to home".
In a statement, Naripakkha said most of the demands "degrade the civic and human rights of women". It also called upon the government to stop playing "a dual role".