Six more people, including top Hefazat-e-Islam leader in Sylhet’s Zakiganj, have been arrested in the past 24 hours in connection with last month's mayhem in Brahmanbaria, police said on Friday.
Mufti Maulana Masood is the general secretary of the dissolved committee of Zakiganj Upazila Hefazat-e-Islam, officials said.
He was also the vice-principal of Shahbagh Jamia Madania Qasimul Ulum Madrasa and the leader of Jamiat-e-Ulama Islam, reports UNB.
Zakiganj police officer-in-charge Abul Qasim said Masood was arrested in connection with a case filed on April 20 at Zakiganj police station.
On April 19, despite government restrictions, a procession was held from Maizgram Jame Mosque in Barhal Union of Zakiganj demanding the release of the arrested leaders and activists of Hefazat-e-Islam.
The next day, the police filed a case against 30 to 35 leaders and activists of BNP, Jamaat, Shibir, and Hefazat-e-Islam at Zakiganj police station.
So far, seven leaders, including Mufti Masood, have been arrested in the case.
In Brahmanbaria, five more people were arrested in the past 24 hours in connection with the mayhem.
The arrests were made from different parts of Brahmanbaria after identifying the accused from video footage and images taken during the violence, the district police said.
So far, 55 cases have been filed and 392 people nabbed over the rampage, the police said in a release.
On March 27, at least five people were killed and around 50 others, including 25 cops, injured in clashes between members of law enforcement agencies and locals during Hefazat’s demonstrations at Nandanpur in Sadar upazila. They had staged the protests against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Bangladesh.
The next day, during Hefazat’s countrywide dawn-to-dusk hartal protesting police action on their anti-Modi processions in Dhaka, Chattogram and other districts, activists set fire to three buildings, including the land office in Brahmanbaria Sadar upazila.
They had also attacked a Chattogram-bound train at Talshohor Rail Station in Brahmanbaria town.
Besides, the Hefazat supporters also vandalised several private and government establishments, including Zila Parishad building, municipality building, Police Lines, Industrial School, land office, Alauddin Music Academy, and Foirtala Bus Stand in Sadar upazila.
The supporters had also attacked Brahmanbaria Press Club and confined some journalists to the premises.
