Cadres of Jammat-Shibir had planned to create anarchy centering the funeral-in-absentia prayers for the Jamaat leader Delawar Hossain Sayedee who had committed crimes against humanity during the 1971 liberation war.
According to the intelligence, Jamaat-Shibir hatched deep rooted conspiracy against the country following the sudden death of the criminal, who was convicted by the International War Crimes Tribunal for his roles in the heinous crimes committed by the occupied Pakistani forces during the liberation war in 1971.
They carried out attacks on police personnel, journalists and common people across the country in the name of holding funeral-in-absentia prayers, which Islamic scholars clearly defined as anti-Islamic.
Talking to the Bangladesh Post, leading cleric Mufti Salauddin Ahmed, who is Pesh Imam of Basast Shahi Mosque under Saturia Upazila of Manikganj district said, there is no rule of holding funeral-in-absentia prayer.
Meanwhile, one person has been killed in Cox’s Bazar district and more than one hundreds were injured in the attacks carried out by Jammat-Shibir cadres on Tuesday.
Dozens of people including on-duty journalists were injured when the notorious cadres of Jamaat-Shibir carried out attacks in other parts of the country.
Jamaat-Shibir cadres carried attacks on police and Awami League activists after the Zohr prayers at Baitul Mukarram national mosque in the capital Dhaka on Tuesday. Hundreds of Jamaat-Shibir activists gathered in the mosque area. the Jamaat-Shibir men hurled brickbats at on both police and ruling party activists, triggering a chase and counter-chase.
Hayatul Islam Khan, deputy commissioner of Motijheel Division Police said, “The Jamaat-Shibir members attacked police and threw brickbats.” Police had to charge batons to disperse the crowd, he mentioned.
He further said that the situation is currently under control, and additional police personnel have been deployed near the mosque.
Earlier in the day, Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Khandaker Golam Faruq said permission for the funeral-in-absentia prayers ( ghaibana janaza) will not be granted following the unrest caused by Jamaat-Shibir members resorting to violence in the areas on Monday night.
On Monday night, Jamaat-Shibir caders attacked on TV journalists while they were broadcasting live on the incident of their violence.
As the journalists used the word convicted war criminal Delawar Hossain Sayedee, they came under brutal attacks from his supporters.
When police tried to carry the body of the notorious war criminal from the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Jamat-Shibir men attacked police, and resorted to violent attacks on the police safeguarding the vehicle that carried the body of Sayedee.
Police foiled another attempt to hold a the funeral-in-absentia prayer for Sayedee in Chattogram's Kazir Dewri area on Tuesday afternoon.
In response, police had to lob teargas canisters and charge batons to disperse the unruly Jamaat-Shibir activists and to save the life and properties of the common people, said local sources.
Sources claimed that Jammat-Shibir men were also engaged in clash in another area of the port city.
One person was killed in a fierce clash between police and Jamaat-Shibir men which erupted following attacks on police in Chakoria Upazila of Cox's Bazar district, main tourist city of Bangladesh.
More than seventy people were injured in the incident. Supporters of the radical party also vandalized several vehicles including police cars. All kinds of traffic were stopped on the highway for about half an hour fearing further violent activities of the extremist political party.
Jamaat-Shibir men also attacked on police at Pekua area in Cox's Bazar. 15 policemen including local OC were injured in the attacks carried by Jamaat-Shibir cadres. The injured policemen are being treated at Pekua Upazila Health Complex.
The injured police men were identified as Pekua Police Station OC Mohammad Omar Haider, Police Inspector (Investigation) Sudipta Shekhar Bhattacharya, Sub-Inspectors (SI) Mohammad Shahinul Islam, Amar Chandra Biswas, Mofizul Islam, Assistant Sub-Inspectors (ASI) Md. Jasim Uddin, constables Ariful Islam Bhuiyan, Pradeep Kumar Dey, Md. Sabur Mia, Ravi Ullah, Imran Hossain, Ramakrishna Das, Tauhidul Islam, Ripon Mia, Riazul Islam.
Among them, SI Shahinul Islam's hand and Amar Chandra Biswas' leg were seriously injured.
According to police sources, funeral-in-absentia prayers were held at Barbakia Bazar in Pekua. A police patrol team was present in the market to maintain law and order. After the prayer, the Jamaat-Shibir activists threw bricks at the police. Getting the information, local OC went to the spot with additional police. Later Jamaat-Shibir caders attacked on police. 15 policemen including the OC were injured in the attacks.
After 2 am on March 3, 2013, the Jamaat-Shibr activists spread misinformation using mosque loudspeakers and mobile phones that the government had secretly hanged Sayeedi and image of his face could be seen on the moon.
Followers of radical Sayeedi poured out on the streets. After Fajr prayer, the mob carrying sticks and sharp weapons attacked and set on fire the Muktijoddha Sangsad, railway station, police stations and different government establishments.
At least 11 persons including women and children were killed in the mayhem unleashed by Jamaat-Shibir leaders, workers and supporters.