People suffered as the leaders and activists of Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh blocked the Cumilla-Sylhet highway in Brahmanbaria for about three hours on Wednesday.
Under the banner of Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh and Towhidi Janata, they blocked the highway at about 10:00am on the day, causing traffic congestion over several kilometres that led to significant inconvenience for travellers heading to various destinations.
They demanded the withdrawal of the cases filed against the leaders and activists of Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh and general people during the Awami League regime which was ousted on August 5, 2024 in a mass uprising.
Later, following assurances from the administration, the blockade was lifted at about 1:00pm.
The protesters said that 75 cases were filed with various police stations following separate incidents of violence in 2016, 2020 and 2021, in which over 3,000 leaders and activists of Hefazat-e-Islam were named as accused, claiming that these cases were politically motivated.
Brahmanbaria Sadar Model Police Station officer-in-charge Mozaffar Hossain said that traffic resumed after the protesters left the highway following the intervention of the administration.
鈥楽enior officials from the district administration and police will hold talks with the protesters to resolve the issue on Sunday,鈥� the OC added.
