Hefazat thanks PM, now wants removal of all statues

Different Islamist organisations, including Quomi madrassah-based Hefazat-e-Islam, on Friday cheered the removal of the statue from the Supreme Court premises and thanked the prime minister Sheikh Hasina for ‘keeping her words’ by removing it.
The statue of justice was removed from the Supreme Court premises early Friday, weeks after the prime minister had reportedly assured Hefazat leaders of removing it.
After Jumma prayers, Dhaka city units of Khelafat Majlish, Bangladesh Khelafat Andolan and Islami Oikya Andolan brought out separate processions from the national Baitul Mukarram mosque welcoming the upcoming holy month of Ramadan and held short rallies.
In the separate rallies, the speakers expressed satisfaction over the removal of what they called ‘idol’ from the SC premises, thanked the PM and warned against placing the removed ‘idol’ in any other place.
In the Khelafat Majlish rally, its central organising secretary Mustafizur Rahman Faisal thanked the PM for keeping her words and also issued warning: ‘We don’t want to see any idol anywhere in the country in the name of sculpture.’
Khelafat Majlish’s Dhaka city vice-president Rifat Hossain, who presided over the rally, warned that if any ‘idol’ was set up anywhere, they would rush there to demolish it.
‘Thank you, prime minister from our part for keeping your words. We appreciate you,’ said Mujibur Rahman Hamidi of Bangladesh Khelafat Andolan just before starting their procession.
Islami Oikya Jote in a statement on Friday appreciated prime minister Sheikh Hasina for removing the statue and termed the decision ‘timely and nice one’.
‘We want to thank and congratulate prime minister Sheikh Hasina for removing the idol by taking a brave step against communal power. This decision reflects the spirit of the Liberation War, equality, human dignity and justice,’ read the press release issued by Foyzullah, secretary general of the Jote.
Talking to New Age, Hefazat organising secretary Azizul Huq Islamabadi, also spokesperson of the Chittagong-based Islamist group, said, ‘Our amir Ahmad Shafi has thanked the prime minister for removing the sculpture.’
He said that they had come to know about a plot to install the ‘idol’ in front of the SC annex building. ‘We will not accept such a move and take steps after consulting with Islamic scholars.’
The United News of Bangladesh news agency reported that the Dhaka city unit of Hefazat in a rally in front of the Baitul Mukarram Mosque after Jumma prayers expressed satisfaction over removal of the statue and placed their fresh demand for removing all standing statues across the country.
Nur Hossain Quashemi, president of Hefazat city unit, thanked the prime minister for the removal of the statue. ‘Other statues set up on roads or intersections throughout the country are rejected by the people and all of them must be removed,’ he said.
The Islamist leaders also warned that no statue would be allowed to be placed anywhere in the country. 

 

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