No compromise on 13-point

Hefajat-e Islam yesterday said it won't compromise on the 13-point demand it announced at a rally in the capital on April 6.
Speaking at a rally in Sylhet city, its leaders threatened to wage a tougher movement if Amar Desh acting editor Mahmudur Rahman were not freed immediately.
They alleged Sheikh Hasina's government had shown through its four-year rule that it belonged to anti-Islamic forces. This government, they added, must be toppled, as people did not want them in power anymore.
Hefajat's General Secretary Junaid Babunagari spoke as the chief guest.
Brushing aside allegations that the Islamist organisation is a mere extension of Jamaat-e-Islami, he said if anyone could prove the allegations, he/she would be rewarded.
He also said the 13-point was not against women's rights, rather it was to ensure their rights.
Babunagari claimed their activists had never barred women from doing jobs outside.
Referring to Awami League general secretary's comment that "Hefajat had to flee from Dhaka", he said the government-backed Gonojagoron Mancha and Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee would soon cease to exist in the face of a mass upsurge.
Yesterday's rally was announced by the Islamic group at its April 6 rally in the capital to drum up support for the 13-point demand including death penalty to those it calls atheist bloggers.
Moulana Muhibul Haque, president of Hefajat-e Islam in Sylhet, presided over the rally, which began around 2:00pm with recitation from the holy Quran.
Shahinur Pasha Chowdhury, former lawmaker and leader of Jamaat-e Ulama-e Islam -- a component of Islami Oikya Jote -- Moulana Shafique Uddin, Principal Musleh Uddin, Moulana Khalilur Rahman, Principal Mahmudul Hasan, Principal Zahid Uddin Chowdhury, Moulana Obaidullah Faruque, among others, spoke at the rally.
Muntasir Ali, former secretary of Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Majlish, said, AL general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam had made derogatory comments about the Prophet(pbuh).
He reminded Ashraf that Taslima Nasrin had to leave the country for maligning Islam and the Prophet(pbuh).
Hefajat activists started gathering at the rally venue since early morning from different parts of Sylhet division.