Bangladesh: Fundamentalists on the Rampage against Ahmadiyas, Songs and the Press

[Bangladesh: Fundamentalists on the Rampage against Ahmadiyas, Songs and the Press - 8 reports from the press]

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(i)

The Daily Star - August 21, 2004

FANATICS FIGHT WITH COPS, ATTACK AHMADIYYA BASE
FIRM TO LAY SIEGE TO THE SECT'S BAKSHIBAZAR COMPLEX AUG 27
Staff Correspondent

Religious fanatics clashed with police and attacked an Ahmadiyya Complex at Bakshibazar from a procession yesterday demanding declaration of the sect as non-Muslim in the run-up to their planned siege to the complex on August 27.

Police used teargas and baton to disperse the bigots who vowed to go ahead with the siege on August 27 and termed the complex attack a warning to the Ahmadiyyas and the government.
Three policemen suffered injuries in the clash and the leaders of Amra Dhakabasi, the organiser of the procession, claimed at least 70 of their activists were injured, of whom 30 were admitted to different hospitals and clinics.
About 400 fanatics brought out the procession from Chawkbazar Shahi Mosjid area after Juma prayers and marched towards the complex along the western side of Chawkbazar Circular Road before police barricaded them.

The agitators threw stones and shoes to the police, triggering a few minutes of scuffle before taking to the eastern side of the Circular Road breaking the police barricade.

Chanting the slogans 'the Ahmadiyyas are non-Muslim' they paraded through Nazimuddin Road, Hosni Dalan Road and Bakshibazar Lane.
Barricaded by police in Bakshibazar Lane, the agitators threw stones to the police who replied with baton.
The fanatics then marched in three groups and one group reached in front of the Ahmadiyya Complex and attacked it with brickbats.
Police again used baton and teargas to bring the situation under control and the authorities deployed a contingent of police in front of the complex after the violence to maintain peace.
Before bringing out the procession, the fanatics staged a rally near the Shahi Mosjid in Chawkbazar where the speakers warned the government that it would have to shoulder the responsibility if any untoward incident took place on August 27.
"Either acknowledge Hazrat Mohammad (SM) as the last prophet or declare yourselves non-Muslim. Then you will be allowed to live in the country peacefully as other minorities like the Hindus, Christians and Buddhists. If you do so, we will postpone our programme," said Shamsul Haq, president of Amra Dhakabasi.

Referring to the recent press conference of the South Asian People's Union against Fundamentalism and Communalism (SAPUFC), he vowed to resist them and demanded punishment to SAPUFC President Kabir Chowdhury and others for talking in favour of Ahmadiyyas.
Shamsul claimed police attacked their peaceful procession and demanded removal of the officer-in-charge (OC) of Lalbagh Police Station for attacking innocent demonstrators.
Reacting to the attack, Tareque Mubasher, spokesman of the Ahmadiyya sect, lauded the role of police in fighting the bigots and urged the government to take firm action so that the bigots cannot reach Ahmadiyya complex on August 27.

Protesting the attack, Kabir Chowdhury said: "This attack will not be able to scare away progressive pro-Liberation forces. We stand by our programme to resist them on August 27."
The SAPUFC in a press conference on Wednesday vowed to resist the move by a group of religious fanatics to lay siege to the Ahmadiyya complex.
They also sent letters to pro-liberation political parties to join a gathering at the complex on the day to resist them.

Police use baton to disperse fanatics who attacked the Ahmadiyya Complex at Bakshibazar from a 'shroud procession' yesterday. Amra Dhakabasi staged the procession demanding declaration of the sect as non-Muslim. PHOTO: STAR


(ii)

The Daily Star - August 20, 2004

BIGOTS RALLY AGAINST PROTHOM ALO

Staff Correspondent

Thousands of angry teachers and students of Kowmi Madrasas demanded cancellation of the declaration of the Daily Prothom Alo from a rally in Dhaka yesterday amid concerns of journalists.

Accusing the newspaper of a hate campaign against unregistered religious schools, the protesters threatened to hem in and burn down the daily's headquarters and call a hartal if the editor and the publisher were not arrested in the next 24 hours.

"No conspiracy against Kowmi Madrasas and Islam will be tolerated," said Islamic Oikya Jote Chairman Fazlul Haq Amini at the rally in front of the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque staged by Befakul Madaresil Arabia, the Kowmi Madrasa Board.

He pegged the editor and the publisher of the Prothom Alo as the agents of American and Jewish axis.

The mob burnt copies of the daily in front of the mosque and paraded through Paltan Crossing, Zero Point, Nayapaltan and Dainik Bangla and ransacked the billboards of The Prothom Alo and The Daily Star at Zero Point and Dainik Bangla intersections.

Amini called upon 'the Muslims of Chittagong' to cripple life in the port city with protests against the daily.

Maulana Abdul Khalek called upon the participants in the rally to protest the burial of prominent writer Humayun Azad, who died in Germany on August 12, beside National Poet Nazrul Islam at the university graveyard.

"The Prothom Alo hurt the sentiments of Kowmi Madrasas only once, but 20 lakh students of the Madrasas will hit back 20 lakh times," said Abdul Zabbar, secretary general of the Madrasa Board.

He asked the teachers and students of the madrasas to take a vow to sacrifice their lives for smashing the daily.
"Either we or The Prothom Alo will exist in this country," Zabbar said.

Chittagong Union of Journalists (CUJ) and Chittagong Press Club (CPC) leaders expressed deep concern over the threat of stopping the distribution of the daily in the port city.

In a joint press statement, they demanded administrative action against Sammilita Madrasa Parishad (SMP), a platform of unregistered Islamic schools, and the IOJ for issuing the threat.
Criticising the SMP demonstration in front of the Bangla daily's Chittagong office on Wednesday, they said the organisation could go for legal action against the newspaper if there were anything wrong in it.
CPC President Abu Sufian, General Secretary Kalim Sarwar, CUJ President Mostaq Ahmad and General Secretary Shahidul Alam signed the statement.
A demonstrator takes away a billboard of Prothom Alo-The Daily Star-GrameenPhone news service yesterday, as thousands of religious schoolteachers and students protested in Dhaka what they said was a hate campaign of the Bangla daily against non-registered madrasas. PHOTO: STAR


(iii)

The Daily Star - August 21, 2004

ICM THREATENS STRONG PROTEST AGAINST PROTHOM ALO

Staff Correspondent

The Islamic Constitutional Movement (ICM) yesterday burnt copies of the Prothom Alo and threatened to launch a vigorous demonstration against the Bangla daily if it did not seek apology for carrying stories on non-government madrasas.

It also demanded cancellation of the declaration of the mass-circulation newspaper and punishment to its editor.

"Copies of the Prothom Alo will be burnt unless the newspaper stops its anti-Islam role," said ICM leader Hemayet Uddin in an address to a rally in front of the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque after Jum'a prayers.

The rally also urged people not to take part in the funeral of prominent writer Humayun Azad, who died in Munich on August 12.

"Humayun Azad was a self-proclaimed anti-Muslim author, so he cannot be buried here (Bangladesh)," said Omar Faruk, an ICM leader.

The ICM also demanded the passage of a blasphemy legislation to prevent what it said was onslaught on Islam.

"The person who will speak against Islam will be forced to leave Bangladesh like Taslima Nasreen and Daud Haider," Faruk told the rally.

The rally also demanded a ban on the books of Azad pegging them as the embodiment of anti-Islamic sentiments.

After the rally, the ICM supporters brought out a procession that ended in front of the Baitul Mukarram after parading some city streets.

Our staff correspondent from Chittagong adds: Kowmi Madrasa Hefazat (protection) Committee will stage a protest rally on Jamiyatul Falah Mosque premises in Dampara after the Zohr prayers today.

At a press conference in Chittagong Press Club yesterday it announced the programmes that also include an agitation procession after the rally. Recently students and teachers of unregistered religious schools and Islami Oikya Jote had formed the Hefazat Committee as a platform to protest what they said the 'hate campaign' run by the Prothom Alo against Kowmi madrasas.

The leaders of the committee told the press conference that they should not be held responsible if agitating people from the procession attack the Chittagong office of the Prothom Alo.

Hathazari Darul Ulum Madrasa teacher Abu Tayab read out the written statement while Islami Oikya Jote (IOJ) Chittagong city unit President Abdur Rahman, Hefazat Committee leaders M Iqbal bin Yeakub, Ishaq Al Gazi, Moulana Abdul Halim Bokhari and Professor Khaled Hossain replied to the queries of journalists.

Meanwhile, a group of madrasa students burnt copies of the Prothom Alo and some other dailies at Hathazari bus station area yesterday morning.

The students snatched those newspapers as soon as those reached Hathazari from Dhaka at around 7.30am, sources said.

They reportedly threatened the newspaper agents and hawkers not to sell the Prothom Alo in that area.


(iv)

The Daily Star - August 21, 2004

THREAT TO PROTHOM ALO CONDEMNED
Staff Correspondent

Different political, social and cultural organisations yesterday condemned the extremist activities against the Bangla daily Prothom Alo.
Thousands of angry teachers and students of Kowmi Madrasas on August 19 staged demonstration demanding cancellation of the declaration of the daily Prothom Alo and burnt copies of the daily in front of the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque. They ransacked the billboards of the Prothom Alo and The Daily Star at Zero Point and Dainik Bangla intersections.
Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) yesterday voiced strong disapproval of the extreme attitude that the teachers and students of Kowmi Madrasa showed in a demonstration demanding cancellation of the declaration of the Prothom Alo.
In a joint statement, leaders of the BFUJ and eight other journalists' unions said the teachers and students of madrasas could opt for legal action against the newspaper if there were anything wrong with the daily.

The BFUJ also expressed deep concern over the government's being indifferent to such destructive activities by the Islamic zealots.
Inactivity of the government raises question whether the government itself is conspiring to strangle the free press by allowing free rein to the religious bigots, the BFUJ press release added.

BFUJ President Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury and Secreatry General Monjurul Ahsan Bulbul signed the statement. Dhaka Journalists' Union President Altaf Mahmud, General Secretary Shah Alamgir, Chittagong Journalists' Union President Mustak Ahmed and General Secretary Shahid ul Alam, Khulna Journalists' Union President MM Zahid Hossain and General Secretary Shaheb Ali, Jessore Journalists' Union President Shajed Rahman and General Secretary Moinul Haq, Dinajpur Journalists' Union President Swarup Kumar Baksi Bachhu and General Secretary Shahin ul Islam,Rajshahi Journalists' Union President Mustafizur Rahman and General Secretary Zaminur Rahman Dulal,Bogra Journalists' Union President AHM Akhtaruzzaman and General Secretary Mahmudur Rahman and Mymensingh Journalists' Union President Kazi Yaseen and General Secretary Ataul Karim were the other signatories.

Bangladesh Workers Party at its central committee meeting expressed concern over the activities of the fanatics against the Prothom Alo.
The party will also organise a press conference at Asad Auditorium today at 12 noon in protest at the August 19 incident, press release said.

Sammilito Samajik Andolon strongly condemned the teachers and students of Kowmi Madrasas for their extreme and deplorable stance against Prothom Alo.
The leaders of the organisation demanded immediate arrest and punishment of the culprits to uphold the freedom of the press, a press release said.
President of the Sammilito Sangskritik Jote Nasir Uddin Yusuf said people should come forward to resist the religious extremists.
Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal also condemned the threats to shut down Prothom Alo by the teachers and students of Kowmi madrasas.


(v)

The Daily Star - August 21, 2004
 
ACTION AGAINST FANATICS DEMANDED
Staff Correspondent

Workers Party of Bangladesh (WPB) yesterday demanded of the government to take action against the Islamic fanatics.
It expressed concern at the death threats issued to journalists, teachers, intellectuals and politicians by the fanatics.
At a discussion at the party office, WPB leaders expressed deep concern over the activities of the fundamentalists against the daily Prothom Alo.

They said the fundamentalists had burnt copies of the Prothom Alo and ransacked its billboards in the capital for publishing stories on the involvement of madrassa students in the activities of the Islamic zealots.
The fundamentalist have also obstructed the sale of the daily at different districts and demanded the cancellation of its declaration, they said.
The WPB leaders blamed Fazlul Haq Amini, leader of the Islamic Oikyajote, for encouraging the fundamentalists.
They expressed concern at the attack on different Ahmadiya mosques.
The party urged all progressive forces to stand united against the fundamentalist forces.
Presided over by party President Rashed Khan Menon, the meeting was also attended by General Secretary Bimol Biswas, Akbor Khan Rono, Abul Basar, Nurul Hasan Monoj Shah and Hajera Sultana.


(vi)

The Daily Star - August 20, 2004
 
LETTERS SENT TO POLITICAL PARTIES TO RESIST ZEALOTS
Staff Correspondent
The South Asian People's Union against Fundamentalism and Communalism (SAPUFC) yesterday sent letters to pro-liberation political parties urging them to join the gathering at the Ahmadiyya Complex at Bakshibazar in the capital on August 27 to resist fanatics and initiate a movement against fundamentalist forces.

"The recent and organised fascist display of torture on religious and ethnic minorities is repression on Ahmadiyya community. Major coalition partners Jamaat and Islamic Oikya Jote (IOJ) and their fundamentalist allies are torturing Ahmadiyyas and capturing and defiling their mosques, violating not only the Bangladesh constitution but also the UN Human Rights Charter," the letter reads.

"Coming to power, the defeated forces of 1971 are now trying to turn a progressive and democratic Bangladesh into an extreme fundamentalist state in Taliban style," said the letter sent to the chiefs of the Awami League, left-leaning 11-party alliance and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal.

Prof Kabir Chowdhury, SAPUFC president, requested the leaders to mobilise public opinion against the move by a group of religious fanatics to lay a siege to the Ahmadiyya complex on August 27.

Expressing grave concern at the fanatics' move, he urged the participation of pro-liberation and progressive parties in eliminating fundamentalism and communalism.

Fundamentalist and communal forces are getting stronger and expanding their activities in an alarming way, the SAPUFC president cautioned.

"The religious bigots will have to pass over our bodies if they go to besiege the Ahmadiyya complex," he said.

Meanwhile, anti-Ahmadiyya fanatics' body Amra Dhakabashi yesterday announced it would bring out a 'burial shroud' procession from Chawkbazar Shahi Mosque after Juma prayers today and hold demonstrations to drum up support for the August 27 planned siege of the Ahmadiyya Complex. They urged people to join the procession 'to compel the government to declare the Kadianis (Ahmadiyyas) non-Muslim.'


(vii)

The Daily Star - August 19, 2004

AHMADIYYA COMPLEX
BODY VOWS TO THWART BIGOTS' SIEGE PLAN
Staff Correspondent
The South Asian People's Union against Fundamentalism and Communalism (SAPUFC) yesterday vowed to resist the move by a group of religious fanatics to lay a siege to the Ahmadiyya complex in the capital on August 27.

It decided to mobilise public opinion against the fanatics' move and organise a massive gathering in front of the Ahmadiyya complex on that day.

"Religious bigots will have to pass over our dead bodies if they try besiege the Ahmadiyya complex," General Secretary of the SAPUFC Shahriar Kabir said at a roundtable on 'Attack on religious minority and our responsibility' held the Jatiya Press Club.

The government alone will have to bear the responsibility if religious bigots to go on with their offensive programme on August 27, he said.

"Religious and ethnic minorities in the country are under thereat of extinction and passing their days in insecurity due to the government's repressive attitude towards them," Shahriar alleged.

Speaking on the occasion, Justice KM Sobhan said the government itself is violating human rights and is also encouraging others to follow its path.

Article 40 of the constitution guarantees the right to exercise religious belief independently but the government has failed to uphold this right, he said.

Prof Mir Mobassher Ali said religious bigots would even seek a change in the country's constitution to declare the Ahmadiyyas non-Muslim. No Muslim country has done this, he mentioned.

"They (religious fanatics) had requested the OIC (Organisation of Islamic Conference) to adopt a resolution to declare the Ahmadiyya as non-Muslim but the OIC did not pay heed to their demand," Mobassher Ali told the roundtable..

President of the SAPUFC Prof Kabir Chowdhury said all progressive political parties should come forward to make its August 27 programme a success.

A group of people in the name of religion has become active to take the country to backward, he said.

The roundtable was also addressed by journalist KG Mustafa, General Secretary of Bangladesh Indigenous People's Forum Sanjib Drong, Prof Borhanuddin Khan Jahangir, Prof Nim Chandra Bhoumik, Abu Osman Chowdhury and former ambassador Waliur Rahman.

Meanwhile, different rights bodies and social organisations have served legal notice on the secretaries of the home ministry and religious affairs ministry and the inspector general of police, demanding arrest and punishment of Khatme Nabuwat leaders for planned attack on Ahmadiyya mosques.

The organisations including Ain o Salish Kendra, Bangladesh Legal Aid And Services Trust, Jatiyo Ainjibi Parishad, Kormojibi Nari, Mahila Parishad, Naripokkha, Nijera Kori and Sammilita Samajik Andolon also served legal notice on the deputy commissioners of Dhaka and Khulna .

They demanded immediate steps to protect the religious rights of the Ahmadiyyas and punishment of those responsible for violating their rights.

Khatme Nabuwat defiled of Ahmadiyya mosque in Khulna in presence of police and threatened to besiege the Ahmadiyya complex at Bakshibazar in Dhaka, said a press release quoting legal notice.


(viii)

The Daily Star - August 20, 2004
 
BOMB SPREE A CONSPIRACY AGAINST SPIRITUAL SONGS
FAKIRS, SAINTS, BAULS DEMAND AN END TO IT
Staff Correspondent
Government indifference fuels the repeat of bomb blasts, an organisation of spiritual singers said yesterday.

Bangladesh Torikote Ahley Bayet held a rally and cultural programme at the Central Shaheed Minar to demand a stop to the bomb blasts and protest what it said was conspiracy against spiritual songs.

Leaders of the organisation alleged fanatics blasted bombs without resistance in shrines, including Hazrat Shahjalal Shrine in Sylhet and blamed the explosion frequency on government inactivity.

They threatened to launch a tough demonstration through rallies and processions and file cases against the government if it fails to control law and order downslide and ensure security of spiritual singers popularly known as bauls.

Fakirs, saints and bauls have become the target of bomb blasts and receive death threats from fundamentalists as the government played down the rise of fanaticism, the leaders said.

"Fanatics move freely and get bail after arrest," said Reza Mahbub Chisty, president of the organisation, adding 170 people died and 550 were injured in a series of blasts across the country in the last five years.

"About two lakh bauls live in insecurity and feel jittery singing folk songs at any place," said Abul Kasem Chisty, general secretary of the organisation.

The fanatics continued to destroy the mazaar near the High Court and Sha Ali Mazaar in Mirpur and handed down fatwa, he said.

A bomb blast at Hazrat Shahjalal Shrine on January 12 killed five people and a second explosion on May 21 killed three and injured 70 others, including British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Anwar Choudhury.

Alam Dewan, general secretary of Bangladesh Baul Shilpi Samity, alleged the government handpicked Bangla Bhai, operations commander of a vigilante outfit in the north, to kill progressive people.

Hundreds of bauls brought out a procession from the Golap Shah Mazaar that ended with a rally at the Central Shaheed Minar.

[Photo Caption]Abdul Latif Bayati sings baul songs at a cultural programme at the Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka yesterday, organised to protest a series of bomb blasts at shrines and death threats to spiritual singers. PHOTO: STAR