Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Bangladesh held a press conference at the National Headquarters of the Jama’at on 10th November, 2012. The purpose of the press conference was to update the situation of Ahmadis of Kisamat Menanagar village under Rangpur district where on 7th of November, a group of fanatics attacked Ahmadiyya houses, looted their belongings, set fire and demolished the under construction mosque of the Jama’at.

The theme paper was read out by Professor Meer Mubashsher Ali sahib, Naib National Ameer of Bangladesh, while Mubasherur Rahman sahib, National Ameer and Maolana Abdul Awwal Khan Chowdhury, Muballigh In-charge and Naib National Ameer set on the dais along with some members of the civil society, who came to express solidarity and spoke to the journalists.

In his paper Prof. Mubashsher Ali sahib mentioned that in the year 2000 the Menanagar chapter of the Jama’at was established and a makeshift mosque was made in 2004. Since then Ahmadis had been offering prayers at the mosque. Recently, Jama’at took initiative to construct a brick made mosque with the help of National Jama’at as a part of Bangladesh Jama’at’s centenary celebration. Therefore, he made it clear that it was not building a new mosque, rather it was reconstruction of the old mosque. While the reconstruction work was going on a group of local people headed by some Moulvis came and asked to stop building of the mosque and threatened Ahmadis. Being informed, the local administration interfered the matter and requested Ahmadis to stop the construction work for few days. For the sake of peace Ahmadis accepted the proposal and refrained from the construction work.

However, within a week the anti-Ahmadi people headed by some local moulvis, some of them allegedly linked with Jamate Islami brought out processions and stoned Ahmadiyya houses and threatened Ahmadis to leave their Ahmadiyya belief by 5th of November, 2012, otherwise they will be punished. In this connection they also formed a committee naming “Qadiani Nirmul Committee”, which means “Ahmadiyya Elimination Committee”.

On 7th of November, the anti-Ahmadiyya group called local and surrounding peoples to take part in anti-Ahmadiyya action, according to them Ahmadis were doing “anti-Islamic activities”. Within a short time hundreds of people attacked Ahmadiyya houses, looted their belongings, set fire and demolished the under construction mosque and looted all building materials. They attacked Ahmadis and also severely injured one newspaper reporter who came to collect the news and was taking photographs of the attack. They also snatched his camera and mobile phone. Police came to take action but initially failed and backtracked, later police was reinforced and took situation under control.

Burning Ahmadiyya Houses

Demolishing & Looting of Ahmadiyya properties

Demolishing Ahmadiyya House

On the following day, a peace meeting was arranged by local administration where Central Ahmadiyya representatives also took part. In the press conference, Ahmadi leaders appealed to the government as under:

1. Ensure, without delay, reconstruction of the Ahmadiyya mosque in Menanagar upholding the rights guaranteed in the constitution of the country
2. Ensure security of the life and property of the members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’t residing in Menanagar and their unobstructed practice of their religious practices as ensured by the Constitution of Bangladesh.
3. Identify the mastermind and miscreants who are behind such incident and take them into task according to law.

The civil society members: eminent educationist Dr. Syed Anwar Hossain, writer-columnist Shahriar Kabir, Human Rights activist and Director Human Rights of BRAC and another Human Rights Activist Barrister Tureen Afroz also spoke at the press conference and demanded punishment of the communal activists and to ensure the constitutional rights of Ahmadis and all citizens of Bangladesh.

Prof. Syed Anwar Hossain speaking at the Press Conference

Largely attended representatives from print and electronic media gave extensive coverage of the press conference.

TV & Newspaper Reporters

However, without listening to Ahmadiyya statement or not paying heed to their appeal, local Thana Council chairman (Upo Zilla Chairman) gave unilateral decision stating that Ahmadis will not be allowed to build their mosque in present place and they will have to move away to another place.

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Courtesy:
Ahmad Tabshir Choudhury, Incharge,
Muslim TV Ahmadiyya Int’l (MTA), Bangladesh Studios & Member, National Executive Committee, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at, Bangladesh