Hefajat-e-Islam would not tolerate closure of Qawmi madrasas and restrictions on offering Tarabi prayers at mosques during Ramadan in the name of stopping the spread of coronavirus, said its Ameer Junayed Babunagari yesterday. 

During a press conference at the Hathazari madrasa where it is based, he also urged the government to "stop mass arrest and harassment of Hefajat activists and supporters".

Hefajat announced that it would hold its Ulama Mashayek conference on May 29 in Chattogram's Hathazari upazila.

Babunagari also suggested that the holy Quran be recited and prayers are offered during Ramadan to get rid of coronavirus.

He asked the government to "reveal the identities of those who caused mayhem in various parts of the country during its peaceful daylong strike on March 27".

"We want to know who caused mayhem during our programme. Who vandalised the government and non-government structures? There is CCTV footage which can help the government identify the real culprits behind the incidents," he said.

He termed the Narayanganj's resort incident involving Mamunul Haque, joint general secretary of Hefajat, a personal matter.

None would be suspended from the organisation over the matter, he said.

Claiming that Chhatra League and Jubo League men were behind the mayhem, he said activists of the pro-ruling party attacked and torched various structures to frame Hefajat.

"Hefajat did not declare any programme on March 26. When aggrieved people took to the streets to protest the attack on innocent people at Baitul Mukarram Mosque, police killed five people on March 26. When Hefajat declared programme on March 27 and 28, police killed 21 others," he claimed.

Chief adviser of Hefajat, Mohibullah Babunagari, chaired the meeting.

On April 8, Deputy Education Minister Mohibul Haque Chowdhury Nowfel warned Hefajat that they would suspend the recognition of degree from Qawmi madrasas if the organisation continued to create anarchy in the name of Islam.