Chattogram, May 4 (V7N) — Sunni leaders have issued a stern warning of a nationwide hartal (strike) if the killers of Maulana Muhammad Rais Uddin Qaderi, former Dhaka city president of Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Sena, are not arrested immediately. They also called for the success of Sunday’s planned ‘March to Gazipur’ in protest of the incident.

A massive protest rally was held on Saturday at Laldighi Square in Chattogram, organized by the Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat. The event was presided over by Principal Mufti Asiyar Rahman Al-Qaderi.

Speakers at the rally included Shaykhul Hadith Allama Qazi Muhammad Moinuddin Ashrafi, Pir Allama Syed Muhammad Masihuddoula, Principal Allama Zaynul Abedin Zubair, Pir Principal Abul Farah Muhammad Farid Uddin, Mufti Abul Kashem Fazlul Haque, Allama Ashrafuzzaman Al-Qaderi, Advocate Abu Naser Talukder, Pirzada Golamur Rahman Ashraf Shah, Principal Abul Kalam Amiri, Allama Shah Nur Muhammad Al-Qaderi, Allama Anisuzzaman Al-Qaderi, Principal Abu Taleb Belal, HM Mujibul Haque Shakkur, Professor Jalal Uddin Azhari, Fazlul Karim Talukder, Maulana Syed Muhammad Golam Kibria, Principal Jasim Uddin Taiyyabi, Professor Syed Hafez Ahmad, Principal Helal Uddin, and Principal Ibrahim Akhtari, among others.

In his address, Allama Qazi Muhammad Moinuddin Ashrafi stated, “Systemic injustice and impunity have become barriers to the rule of law and good governance in this country. Even after years, there has been no progress in the trial of the martyr Allama Nurul Faruqi’s murder. Now, another religious scholar, Maulana Rais Uddin, was brutally tortured and killed in Gazipur over false allegations. The mob justice and extrajudicial killings must end.”

He further added, “The police have not even filed a case regarding the murder. We are deeply concerned by such discriminatory behavior by law enforcement. If the killers are not arrested promptly, the police and administration will be held responsible for any consequences. We will be compelled to declare a hartal if immediate action is not taken.”

Speakers also criticized the government’s recent decision to allow a “humanitarian corridor” in Rakhine, claiming that such policies risk turning Bangladesh into a haven for extremists. They further rejected the recommendations made by the Women Affairs Reform Commission, labeling them as “anti-Islamic.”

END/ABZ/AJ/