Leaders of radical Islamist organisation Hefazat-e-Islam, Bangladesh, which claimed to have been formed to protect Islam, are now busy protecting themselves.
This extremist organisation, which had remained busy in anarchy through vandalism, arson attacks and spreading communalism since the last 10 years, is now facing legal action by the government.
In face of the legal action, senior leaders of the organisation are now trying to come to a compromise with the government while being apologetic.
They also admitted that their activities in the last few years were not fair and lawful.
But, according to sources, the government is not willing to spare them as this organisation and its leaders are linked to conspiracies against the government as well as against the country. They are also supported by vested quarters, who want to make the situation in the country unstable at any cost.
Sources said, apart from around 30 top leaders, about around 1,000 other leaders and activists of Hefazat-e-Islam have been arrested in the last one month after they were found to be direcly linked with anarchy in recent times and in 2013.
Many central leaders are also accused of killing the former chief of the organisation, Ahmad Shafi.
As there are documented proofs of their involvement in various crimes, there are the possibilities of being convicted by the court if the cases filed against them appear before courts.
There are also the possibilities of many other leaders being arrested.
According to information, to avoid arrest, senior leaders of Hefazat-e-Islam are now begging pardon from the government. They called on the Home Minister several times seeking government’s consideration.
Although this radical organisation had been carrying out violent activities since the last 10 years, the government took a strong stand when the organisation crossed all limits centring the Bangladesh visit of Indian Prime Minister.
During the three-day-long anarchy, at least 17 people were killed, and several hundred others sustained injuries while they ransacked and set fire to hundreds of offices, business establishments and transports.
In such a situation, the central and metropolitan committees of Hefazat were dissolved on 26 April as one of its strategies. A convening committee was also formed on the same day. Muhibullah Babungari is the chief adviser, Junaid Babungari is its chief emir and Nurul Islam Jihadi is the secretary general.
Sources said, the committees of the Hefazat-e-Islam have been dissolved as part of a technique of the radical organisation. It is also seeking government pardon for the same purpose. They are doing everything for the existence of the organisation and self-protection of its leaders, who are found to be involved with various crimes.
