Mohammad Jamil Khan

Detectives claimed to have identified at least 313 donors, who used to finance Hefajat-e Islam that carried out violence across the country late last month protesting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Bangladesh.

Formed in 2012, Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) has earned a reputation for solving the seemingly unsolvable, “sensational” and difficult cases. This specialised unit conducts criminal investigations and digital forensic services by the order of court and Police Headquarters (PHQ). In an interview with The Daily Star, PBI chief, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Banaj Kumar Majumder spoke about the organisation’s work process, achievements, challenges, constraints and future plans.

The combined Islamic education board of Qawmi madrasas yesterday decided that the teachers and students of Qawmi madrasas will stay away from all sorts of political activities.

Banned militant outfit Harkat-ul-Jihad (Huji) is back, this time in the garb of Hefajat-e-Islam, according to intelligence reports of multiple agencies, including the police.

The central committee of the Qawmi madrasa-based Hefajat-e Islam has been dissolved.

Intelligence and regulatory bodies fear a possible labour unrest ahead of Eid caused by the uncertainty over payment of salaries and festival bonuses of workers of some factories affected by the pandemic.

Under pressure due to the ongoing crackdown on its top leaders, Hefajat-e-Islam is now trying to negotiate with the government.

Irked by Hefajat’s violent activities starting with the protest against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit last month, the government has decided to bring to book everyone involved in the mayhem in different parts of the country, especially Brahmanbaria.

Top Hefajat-e Islam leader Mamunul Haque was arrested in the capital yesterday as the government continues crackdown on the Islamist outfit for its recent violent activities.

In the five days after the movement pass was introduced by police to ensure a “strict lockdown”, going to workplaces has been the most common reason for people availing the passes.

The Police Bureau of Investigation in a probe report says Hefajat-e Islam Amir Junaid Babunagari and 42 others were involved in “creating an atmosphere that hastened the death” of the Islamist outfit’s supremo Shah Ahmad Shafi.

Jama’atul Mujahideen India, the Indian wing of mainstream JMB, was divided into three factions due to differences of opinion between leaders.

He planned to travel to India and take charge of the JMB wing of the neighboring country.

In the face of recent violence by Hefajat-e-Islam, the police have beefed up security in different districts, including Dhaka.

Counterterrorism unit claimed to have arrested the militant outfit Ansar Al Islam’s IT wing expert, who was planning to regroup and restart the outfit’s operational activities, including targeted killing, along with sacked army major Syed Ziaul Haq.

A week after the Brahmanbaria mayhem, Hefajat-e-Islam, the ruling Awami League and the BNP are trading blame for the widespread violence and damages in the town.

The National Emergency Service-999 has been providing service to around 23,000 to 25,000 emergency help seekers daily.

The music academy of legendary musician Ustad Alauddin Khan is situated just 150 metres off Brahmanbaria Sadar Model Police Station.

Expressing resentment over destruction carried out by Hefajat-e-Islam in various places including Brahmanbaria and Hathazari, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed asked, “Why are state establishments being attacked repeatedly? Are they against the state that is Bangladesh?”

Leaders and operatives of four local militant outfits are now operating an online business from behind bars to collect funds, say police investigators.