Prayers, no propaganda
Govt moves not to let any radical groups exploit religion
Hasan Jahid Tusher
The government is ready to tackle any attempt by Jamaat-e-Islami and its allies to stir up religious sentiments against the Shahbagh youths after today's Juma prayers.
Meanwhile, the Shahbagh youths yesterday announced a programme to offer special prayers in mosques across the country after the Juma prayers today for the departed souls of all Liberation War martyrs and those killed by Jamaat and its student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir since 1971.
Prime Minister's Special Assistant Mahbubul Alam Hanif told The Daily Star that mosques across the country had been told that clerics would be free to give any religious speech, not any hate speech, after the Juma prayers.
Sources in the home ministry said if any attempt is made to create chaos in any area today, the authorities will consider restrictions on the movement of more than three persons in a group.
According to law enforcement agencies, forces would be deployed near all important mosques to avert any untoward incidents.
The government has held talks with dozens of clerics in the last two days over Jamaat's smear campaign against the Shahbagh youths, and urged them not to buy into the propaganda, said the sources.
In the meantime, Islamic Foundation has taken steps to prevent Jamaat from using any of its mosques -- nearly 40,000 across the country -- for the smear campaign against the Shahbagh movement, said sources.
It sent two representatives to Chittagong to hold talks with Moulana Ahmad Shafi, chief of Hefazat-e-Islam that got published advertisements in three newspapers a couple of days ago with anti-Islami contents.
The radical Islamist organisation claimed that the contents were posted on the internet by bloggers involved in the Shahbagh movement.
Hefazat-e-Islam earlier announced that they would bring out processions from mosques across the country after the Juma prayers, demanding trial of “the atheist bloggers”.
Contacted, Monirul Islam, joint commissioner of Detective Branch of police, said adequate security measures have been taken for today.
Intelligence officials said there could be an attempt to bring out a large procession from Hathazari Madrasa run by Shafi in Chittagong. Several other Islamist parties, including a faction of Islami Oikya Jote, Nejame Islami, Khelafat Majlish and Islami Andolon, might try to hold rallies at different mosques in the capital.
Intelligence sources add they have information that subversive activities might be carried out at important places like Baitul Mukarram National Mosque, Jatiya Press Club and Bangladesh Secretariat throughout this month.
Hanif, also joint general secretary of the ruling Awami League, said, “The government remains alert about the Jamaat plot and it will not tolerate any attempt to create chaos in the name of religion.”
“Law enforcers will be there [near mosques] to maintain law and order.” Hanif said he believed that no true cleric would be misguided by Jamaat's propaganda.
He urged all Islamist parties not to indulge in violence over any propaganda, as the government has already blocked those blogs that had anti-Islami contents.
Hanif said it was not the bloggers who had posted those contents on the internet, rather it was Jamaat that hacked into the websites, and posted those offensive contents to taint the Shahbagh movement. He said the bloggers respect religion like others.
Three newspapers published objectionable advertisements and news items to serve Jamaat's purpose, and if they continue to do so, legal action will be taken against them, said Hanif.
Jamaat under the banner of a few radical Islamist groups and parties plans to bring out demonstrations from mosques and madrasas, branding the Shahbagh youths as atheists, anti-Islamic and anti-social elements, according to intelligence officials.
Misbaur Rahman Chowdhury, chairman of another faction of Islami Oikya Jote (IOJ), said Jamaat and its student wing Shibir have been carrying out smear campaign in the name of religion to taint the Shahbagh movement.
“Jamaat men created those blogs with anti-Islami contents, and used them to hurt religious sentiments.”
He said true Muslims will never fall for Jamaat's smear campaign, as they know the parties that opposed the 1971 Liberation War exploit religious sentiments.
Rahman, also member of Islamic Foundation's board of governors, said they would not allow Jamaat to use any of their 40,000 mosques today for its smear campaign.
“We plan to hold a grand rally soon to make people aware of Jamaat's propaganda and let them know the truth. Ten to 12 Islamist parties will be with us,” said the chief of the IOJ faction, a component of the Awami League-led grand alliance.
Shamim Mohammad Afzal, director general of Islamic Foundation, said they have urged the clerics to alert people so that Jamaat and its allies cannot create any chaos in the name of protests today.
He said Jamaat is practising the political ideologies of Abul Ala Maududi and has no relations with real Islam.
Home Minister Muhiuddin Khan Alamgir told BBC Bangla Service that action would be taken against Jamaat and its allies, if they try to create anarchy in the name of demonstration today.
Prayers, no propaganda
, tell him we are coming back in next march .like zakir bhai said ,''kabor ache" 
. we will see kar khobor ke kore 
they can huff and puff all they want.
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