Earlier today immediately after Jumma prayers, over 20,000 worshipers gathered outside the national mosque, responding to the call by Hizb ut-Tahrir Bangladesh to protest against the cartoons. After which, over 10,000 joined the party's march towards the daily's main office. When the demonstrations reached the city's Shabagh junction, the police launched a series of attacks on the members and activists of the party, on a day of fasting in the blessed month of Ramadhan. Despite the police's brutal attempts to disperse the crowd by beating them, the protesters continued to hold up the Raya (shahadah flag), repeatedly took severe beating whilst shouting slogans and standing their ground, without letting the Raya touch the ground.
Mohiuddin Ahmed said that these mindless attacks on the members and activists by the Government are totally unacceptable and unforgivable. Rather it was a duty on the Government to meet the demands of the people by arresting the malicious criminals who are continuing with their heinous crime. Only yesterday they tried to fool the people through empty apologies whilst at the same time their sister concern, the Weekly 2000 Magazine, published articles comparing the Holy Kaabah with a brothel and insulted the Mothers of the Believers (ra) – the wives of the prophet (saw).

In response to these criminal attacks Hizb ut-Tahrir Bangladesh calls on the Government to comply with the demands of 140 million Muslims of Bangladesh:

1. Within 72 hours, arrest Mahfuz Anam (Publisher of Daily Prothom Alo and Weekly 2000), Motiur Rahman (Editor of Prothom Alo) and Golam Murtaza (Editor of Weekly 2000)

2. Suspend the licenses of the two publications immediately In order to ensure that the demands are met, Hizb ut-Tahrir Bangladesh announces the following activities: · Countrywide demonstrations after Taraweeh prayers tonight, 21st, 22nd and 23rd September 2007.