Hefajat-e-Islam yesterday said it wants to hold dialogue with the government to settle the ongoing debate centring the installation of the sculpture of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

At a press conference in Dhaka Reporters Unity, the Qawmi-based madrasa organisation also said the alem community is trying to hold a meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on this issue.

"We are appealing to the government to resolve the issue through discussion. We are also trying to hold discussions with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina so that the ongoing problem can be resolved in an amicable way," Mahfuzul Haque, a top Hefajat leader and also secretary general of the Madrasa Education Board (Befaq), said at the briefing.

Asked when the meeting with the prime minister could be held, Mahfuzul said the date is yet to be determined.

"We are communicating to hold the meeting. We are optimistic of holding the meeting in short time," he added.

Maulana Nurul Islam, nayeb-e-amir of Hefajat-e-Islam, read out a statement at the press conference.

The statement demanded the withdrawal of the sedition cases against Hefajat Amir Junayed Babunagari, its Joint Secretary General Mamunul Haque and Nayeb-e-Amir of Islami Andolon Bangladesh Syed Faizul Karim.

On December 7, two sedition cases were filed with the Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Court against the trio.

One of the cases was filed by Muktijuddho Moncho President Aminul Islam Bulbul with the court of Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Satyabrata Sikder.

Bangabandhu Foundation founder Moshiur Malek filed the other case against Mamunul with the same court.

The magistrate took the cases into cognisance and recorded statements of the complainants.

The court directed the deputy inspector general of Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) to investigate the cases and submit two separate reports to it by January 7.

The cases mentioned that the statements made by Babunagari, Mamunul and Faizul was tantamount to sedition.

In the written statement, Hefajat leader Nurul Islam called for the government to control those who are speaking against Islam.

Otherwise, he said the country's religious-minded people will be forced to take to the streets to stop these "evil forces."

Nurul said Hefajat-e-Islam is urging the government to shun the path of spreading idolism and going against the belief and education of Islam.

Pointing to the recent vandalism of an under-construction sculpture of Bangabandhu in Kushtia, he said Hefajat wants punishment of those involved in the incident through proper investigation.

However, he said they have doubts about the released pictures of the suspects in this incident.

Hefajat-e-Islam Joint Secretary General Mamunul Haque and other leaders of the organisation were present at the press conference.