BANGLADESH: ICM threatens strong protest against Prothom Alo

Islamic Constitutional Movement burns copies of dailies; seeks apology for stories

The Daily Star
Saturday, August 21, 2004

The Islamic Constitutional Movement (ICM) yesterday burnt copies of the Prothom Alo and threatened to launch a vigorous demonstration against the Bangla daily if it did not seek apology for carrying stories on non-government madrasas.

It also demanded cancellation of the declaration of the mass-circulation newspaper and punishment to its editor.

"Copies of the Prothom Alo will be burnt unless the newspaper stops its anti-Islam role," said ICM leader Hemayet Uddin in an address to a rally in front of the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque after Jum'a prayers.

The rally also urged people not to take part in the funeral of prominent writer Humayun Azad, who died in Munich on August 12.

"Humayun Azad was a self-proclaimed anti-Muslim author, so he cannot be buried here (Bangladesh)," said Omar Faruk, an ICM leader.

The ICM also demanded the passage of a blasphemy legislation to prevent what it said was onslaught on Islam.

"The person who will speak against Islam will be forced to leave Bangladesh like Taslima Nasreen and Daud Haider," Faruk told the rally.

The rally also demanded a ban on the books of Azad pegging them as the embodiment of anti-Islamic sentiments.

After the rally, the ICM supporters brought out a procession that ended in front of the Baitul Mukarram after parading some city streets.

Our staff correspondent from Chittagong adds: Kowmi Madrasa Hefazat (protection) Committee will stage a protest rally on Jamiyatul Falah Mosque premises in Dampara after the Zohr prayers today.

At a press conference in Chittagong Press Club yesterday it announced the programmes that also include an agitation procession after the rally. Recently students and teachers of unregistered religious schools and Islami Oikya Jote had formed the Hefazat Committee as a platform to protest what they said the 'hate campaign' run by the Prothom Alo against Kowmi madrasas.

The leaders of the committee told the press conference that they should not be held responsible if agitating people from the procession attack the Chittagong office of the Prothom Alo.

Hathazari Darul Ulum Madrasa teacher Abu Tayab read out the written statement while Islami Oikya Jote (IOJ) Chittagong city unit President Abdur Rahman, Hefazat Committee leaders M Iqbal bin Yeakub, Ishaq Al Gazi, Moulana Abdul Halim Bokhari and Professor Khaled Hossain replied to the queries of journalists.

Meanwhile, a group of madrasa students burnt copies of the Prothom Alo and some other dailies at Hathazari bus station area yesterday morning.

The students snatched those newspapers as soon as those reached Hathazari from Dhaka at around 7.30am, sources said.

They reportedly threatened the newspaper agents and hawkers not to sell the Prothom Alo in that area.

Date Posted: 8/21/2004