Shawdesh Desk:

A vested quarter has been active again in destabilising the country and hatching deep-rooted conspiracies against the Awami League-led government to hinder the advancement of the country.

Sources said the quarter is hatching deep-rooted conspiracies to hinder the economic growth of the country which is proceeding quickly towards massive development.

They are plotting to demean Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as Bangladesh is going to be developing country under her prudent leadership.

Intelligence sources said after failing to achieve political gains during the present government, a vested quarter along with different Islamist organisations has been plotting to create unrest by letting loose their supporters on the political field.

The government has invited many world leaders, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to the 10-day celebrations of the golden jubilee of the country’s independence and the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Responding to the invitation, some world leaders arrived in Bangladesh, but a vested quarter was trying to tarnish the country’s image in front of them.

Sources said the quarter has been active in the field to fish in troubled waters after failing to achieve political gains during the present government.

In the last few days, different organisations, including Hefazat-e-Islam, have brought out rallies in Dhaka, Chattogram and some other districts in protest against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Bangladesh.

Different militant organisations are reportedly patronising the protesters to create unrest with the view to halting the progress of the country.

On Friday, several hundred supporters of the Islamist group staged demonstrations in Dhaka, Chattogram, Brahmanbaria and some other places after Jum’a prayers.

Their demonstrations turned violent as supporters of Hefazat, mostly madrasa students and other religious elements, were locked in clashes with law enforcers and activists of the ruling party.

So far, sporadic clashes left four protesters dead at Hathazari in Chattogram and nine others in Brahmanbaria in the last three days. More than one hundred protesters were also injured in the clashes.

Moreover, at least 50 people, including journalists, were injured in clashes between police and anti-Modi protesters in Baitul Mukarram National Mosque area in Dhaka on Friday.

Hundreds of protesters, including members of Islamist organisations, gathered outside Baitul Mokarram Mosque after Jum’a prayers, protesting against Narendra Modi’s visit to Bangladesh.

Police waylaid them when they tried to bring out a procession. The protesters threw stones at police.

At one stage, police fired several rounds of teargas shells to bring the situation under control. Several motorcycles were also burnt in front of the south gate of the national mosque.

Later, Hefazat-e-Islam activists enforced a daylong countrywide hartal on Sunday in protest against the killing.

Earlier on Thursday, activists of leftist originations were locked in clashes with police in Motijheel and Dhaka University areas of the capital during their protests against Modi’s visit.

On Saturday, Hefazat-e-Islam activists blocked Chattogram–Khagrachhari highway by constructing a brick wall.

Civil-society members have alleged that the way so-called organisations are staging protests shows clearly that they have ill motive. They want to hinder the peace and progress of the country.

The way they are staging protests is unpardonable and stern action should be taken against those perpetrators, they said.

They also said the patriotic people of Bangladesh, who are now enjoying full freedom, economic development, modern infrastructure and welfare-oriented programmes of the government, will foil any attempt to create instability by hampering the ongoing extraordinary socioeconomic development.

World leaders, including UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and US President Joe Biden, have congratulated Bangladesh and its people on the golden jubilee of the country’s independence.

Meanwhile, the government has deployed Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) troops in Dhaka and other parts of the country to maintain law and order. Besides this, police have also been asked to stay alert.

Police said they were acting professionally and sincerely to prevent any untoward situation in the country.