Bangladesh News

The government has no plan to go for the masterminds of recent violence in the name of protesting “anti-Islam” elements in the women development policy but is going to take stern action against the violators of the state of emergency.

The street demonstrations and violence by Islamist bigots have “embarrassed” the government. But it does not want to take a hardline stance and arrest the masterminds “since it’s a sensitive issue” involving religion and the national mosque, said a high level source in the government yesterday.

While the government is in a dilemma, Mufti Mohammad Nuruddin, acting Khatib of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque, categorically told The Daily Star yesterday the long-standing tendency of doing politics centring the mosque should stop immediately.

“I think it would be the best solution if the government demarcates mosque as a protected area, barring any kind of political activities. Only thus the sanctity of the mosque can be ensured,” he said, expressing his intention to place a proposal to the government in this regard.

The situation has already created resentment even among the law enforcement agencies as the fanatics attacked the law enforcers in Dhaka and vandalised a police station in Chittagong without any instigation, according to several sources.

Police sources said officials of different ranks have already conveyed this feeling to their superiors.

Meanwhile, Islamist organisations have pinned the blame on the police for attacking them and are planning tough programmes to force the government scrap the women development policy and remove Women and Children Affairs Adviser Rasheda K Choudhury.

“We know who are behind designing all these. But at the moment, we don’t want to go after them as that might aggravate the situation further,” a high-level official said who cannot be identified.

But those who actively took part in the Thursday and Friday’s violence in Dhaka and Chittagong are going to face strong action, affirmed the official.

Using different names, activists of around two dozens of Islamist organisations including Jamaat-e-Islami, Islami Oikya Jote, Hizbut Tahrir, Khelafat Majlish and Islami Shashantantra Andolon took part in the post-Juma violence at the national mosque on Friday.

Though not present on the scene, many leaders of these organisations had time to time contact with the activists over phone during the “planned” movement, sources said, adding that many madrasa students also took part.

Several high-level discussions on how to tackle the issue have already taken place and the law enforcement agencies have been asked to collect details how such large demonstrations and violence occurred while emergency state is in force.

Since taking action against the top brass of the Islamists parties may add fuel to the fire, the law enforcement agencies have been asked to “advance carefully” but tackle the situation with “strong hand”, said sources.

“Here is the old dilemma: if you attempt to take action, they will just say that the government is taking stance against Islam. Finally, you will not be able to do anything,” said a government high official.

Since the caretaker government has already been troubled with price spiral and some other issues, it does not want to add another group to its opposition, he added.

To identify those who actively took part in Thursday and Friday’s violence, the government agencies have already started collecting evidence including video footage and still photographs taken by the intelligence agencies and print and electronic media.

The law enforcers said initially over 100 people can be identified though such pieces of evidence. “We will later be able to identify others through these people,” a police officer told The Daily Star yesterday.

On staging demonstrations and violence violating the emergency, Home Secretary Abdul Karim said: “We will take steps according to the law.”

Contacted by The Daily Star yesterday, Inspector General of Police Nur Mohammad said: “An investigation has already been initiated into this. We’ll take necessary steps against everyone who will be found involved.”

The police have already filed a case against 4,000 to 5,000 unknown people and arrested 17, while another case has been filed for the Chittagong incident.