Pro-government imams paid to boycott 6th April Long March to Dhaka

A press conference was held by a new organisation, “Shachetan Hakkani Alem Shamaj” to boycott the 6th April long march by Hefazat-e-Islam, at Jatiya Press Club, on Wednesday. It has been reported that this government supported organisation had been offering money (250 taka per person) to get participants in the conference.

The matter came to light when the participants began complaining that they were being paid lesser (200 taka) than promised. Some participants, who wish not to be named, informed news agency natunbarta about this.

Another participant told natunbarta: “A lot of the people at the conference are mosque imams or members of the Islamic Foundation who participated in order to keep their jobs. There were other people as well.”

He confirmed the issue of payment to attendees: “The man who spoke at the conference (Maulana Johirul Islam Miya) is close to the Director General (DG) at Islamic Foundation - he helps in making implementing the DG's plans.”

Another person told natunbarta: “The Director of the Coordination Department of Islamic Foundation’s head office, Harun-ur-Rashid, facilitated in commissioning these participants.”

The press conference convener, Maulana Johirul Islam Miya and coordinator, Maulana Abdur Kabir Khan Jaman, although relatively unknown, played the leading roles in this conference.

Maulana Abdur Kabir Khan Jaman denied that people were paid to participate. He said: “There is no scope in bringing people in with money. However, if anyone did make any such payments, I am unaware of it.” 

Under the Society’s banner, the two aforementioned ‘religious’ leaders condemned the leaders of Hefazat-e-Islam, including well known religious leaders and top scholars of the nation - Allama Ahmad Shafi, Nur Hossain Kashmir and Ahmadullah Ashraf. They also declared Shahbag protest convener, Dr Imran H Sharkar, as a “true Muslim”.

Source: Via Progress Bangladesh (translation of natunbarta article)