Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, speaking in parliament on violence during the golden jubilee celebration, came down hard on the Hefazat-e-Islam, the country’s main Islamist group, and other opposition parties for causing mayhem in the country, especially during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit, reported bdnews24. 

Calling the violence “very unfortunate and shocking”, Hasina trained guns on Hefazat, saying, “Don’t they go to Deoband (Dar al Uloom in India) for education? How do they go to Deoband if they carry out such incidents? Have they thought about it?” 

Last month, the Hefazat-e-Islam, an Islamist group in Bangladesh that follows the Deobandi branch of Islam, led violent protests against the Modi visit and his participation in the golden jubilee celebration. The protests, which later spread across the country, claimed 14 lives and wounded thousands. 

Hasina also attacked the country’s main opposition party, Bangladesh Nationalist Party. “Hifazat is not alone, the BNP and the Jamaat are involved with them and it is quite apparent in all their activities. And what’s more, is that not everyone from Hifazat is involved with this - that is the reality,” she was quoted as saying by bdnews24. 

“Why did they still carry out such attacks? What we saw from the beginning is that the BNP was supporting them. I ask how can the BNP-Jamaat Alliance provide them support,” she added. 

She said the group is “playing with fire”. “Today they are burning railway stations, land offices, and DC offices. What would happen if their madrasas and homes catch fire? Will the people keep tolerating these? No, they won’t,” she said in a veiled warning.