Hifazat, others want anti-march strike off

The Hifazat-e-Islam and the Islami Oikka Jote on Thursday issued simultaneous but separate threats of a series of nationwide shutdowns if the strike called on the day of their proposed long march was not withdrawn.

Hifazat-e-Islam’s Central Organising Secretary Azizul Haque Islamabadi issued the threat at a press conference in Chittagong.

“If the shutdown called from Friday 6pm to Saturday 6pm is not withdrawn, we will call for a string of strikes from Apr 7 (Sunday).”

Islamabadi said their long march had no political agenda, but the government’s Planning Minister AK Khandaker-led Sector Commanders’ Forum, 'highly agnostic' Shahriar Kabir-led Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee and some other organisations were out to foil the programme.

Simultaneously, the Islami Oikka Jote also threatened strikes at a press conference in Dhaka’s Lalbagh.

“The government is backing the strike by their like-minded parties and organisations on the day of our long-march. If the shutdown is not withdrawn within 6pm today (Thursday), we will call for a string of nationwide shutdowns from Sunday,” the Oikka Jote said in a release.

Earlier, 25 organisations including the Sector Commander’s Forum, Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee and the Sammilita Sangskritik Jote, called the Friday 6pm to Saturday 6pm strike to check the Hifazat-e-Islami’s long-march and demand a ban on the politics of Jamaat-e-Islami.

The Hifazat is expected to begin its march to Dhaka from Chittagong after Friday afternoon prayers placing forward a six-point charter of demands including arrest of the ‘atheist’ Ganajagaran Mancha bloggers.

They will march to Dhaka and hold a rally in the capital on Saturday.