Sedition case filed against Islamist Hefazat-e-Islam Chief

Dhaka, Dec 8: A Dhaka court has ordered the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) to probe the sedition cases filed against the Chief of the Islamist organisation 'Hefazat-e-Islam' Junaid Babunagari and others who had allegedly threatened to pull down all the sculptures including that of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

The Muktijodho Monch had filed the case and had alleged that Junaid Babunagari and a few others had threatened to pull down the sculpture of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. This was viewed as an act of insult of the father of the nation and the constitution of the country.

The accused are also alleged to create communal hatred using religion for political gains. The High Court in Dhaka has ordered authorities to take immediate steps to protect all the statues of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman across the country.

The HC has also directed the government to submit a report on the progress in installing the sculptures of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at all the districts and upazilas of the country.

Soon after the threat, an under construction statue of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was damaged in Kushtia town of Bangladesh. Police have arrested four persons including two students of a local madrasa for vandalism.