Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)-Twelve like-minded Islamic parties have called a countrywide daylong general strike for Sunday when they fought pitched battle with police around Jatiya Press Club area in Dhaka to protest against a film and one French weekly’s cartoon demeaning Prophet Hazrat Mohammad (PBUH). .
At least 30 people including law enforcers were injured and over 20 teargas shells were lobbed during the clash that ensued around 10:30am on Saturday.
Defending the strike, Chairman of a faction of Islami Oikya Jote (IOJ) Mufti
Fazlul Haque Amini demanded unconditional release of the leaders and activists of the parties detained by police.
He made the demand at an emergency meeting held at IOJ central office in the city’s Lalbagh area in the afternoon.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) imposed a ban on holding rallies in Paltan, Baitul Mukarram National Mosque, Kakrail, Dainik Bangla intersection, Bijoynagar and adjacent areas from 5:00pm Friday till further orders.
DMP Commissioner Benazir Ahmed, in a press statement, said the ban was imposed as rallies called by two rival Islamist organizations, Sammilito Olama Mashayekh Parishad and 12 Islamist parties, at the same place on Saturday may lead to conflicts.
The crudely made video, filmed in California and circulated on the Internet under several titles including “Innocence of Muslims”, portrays the Prophet Mohammad engaged in crude and offensive behaviour.
On the other hand, the weekly Charlie Hebdo on Wednesday, published a cartoon which includes obscene images intended to represent Prophet Mohammad, as opposed to any other Muslim.
BBN/SSR/AD-22Sept12-9:20 pm (BST)
