A phone conversation between two top leaders of two radical political parties—Bangladesh Jamaat e Islam and Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish, smacks of a deep-rooted conspiracy to destabilize the government in the name of attendance at the namaz-e-janaza of Maulana Jubaer Ahmed Ansari at Sarail in Brahmanbaria district recently.
According to the leaked phone conversation, Jamaat Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman was heard instigating Secretary General of Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish, Maulana Mahfuzul Haque, for a Mothijeel Shapla Chattor-styled anarchy to topple the government. They first started the conversation using mobile phones, but within a few seconds, Dr Shafiqur Rahman asked Mufti Mahfuz to call using Whatsapp to dodge the law enforcers. However, the detailed conversation was leaked.
Dr Shafique said, “ Gather huge numbers of activists and cadres to raise a mass movement against the current government.” He also assured Mufti Mahfuz that large numbers of Jamaat-Shibir cadres had been instructed to help Khelafat in this regard. A few police personnel will not be able to face thousands of our cadres in any way, he further said.
In the phone conversation, the Jammat chief said, “ I have already assigned our leaders and activists across the country, especially in Chattogram, remain ready to face law enforcers in any situation.” He said by showing a huge gathering, the government must be given a good lesson.
Bangladesh Post attempted to talk to both Dr Shafique and Mufti Mahfuz over the allegations against them, but they could not be reached. However, both the family members of the deceased and a local leader of Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish claimed they had not known such a big crowd would turn up.
They said the funeral was organized on the smaller madrasa ground so that a large crowd could be averted. Khelafat Majlish Brahmanbaria chapter general secretary, Maulana Moinul Islam Khondoker said, "Even then, the large crowd appeared. We could not tell them to go away.”
Earlier on Saturday, thousands of people attended Maulana Jubaer Ahmed Ansari’s namaz-e-janaza in Brahmanbaria's Sarail amid the countrywide Covid-19 shutdown. The pictures of the funeral became viral on social media, and conscious citizens criticized the local administration over its failure to resist the gathering.
Three police officers were withdrawn following the gathering . Mohammad Anisur Rahman, SP, Brahmanbaria, confirmed the information.
The withdrawn police officers were the assistant superintendent of police of the Sarail-Ashuganj circle Md. Masud Rana, Sarail Police Station OC Sahadat Hossain Tito and Inspector (investigation) Nurul Haque.
A probe body, headed by Additional Deputy Inspector General (admin and finance) of Chattogram range Iqbal Hosen, was subsequently formed. The probe committee started working. Brahmanbaria district went under complete lockdown on April 11, following the death of a novel coronavirus patient. As of April 19, ten people have tested positive for the virus.