Rumours behind Fatikchharhi mayhem

Calculated rumours about a mosque being attacked and a local cleric being abducted provoked the attack on the anti-strike procession leading to three deaths on Thursday.

The Awami League and its fraternal groups bore the brunt of the attack on Thursday afternoon at Bhujpur in Fatikcherri upazilla .

Villagers were provoked by concerted rumour-mongering by the Jamaat –e-Islami and Islami Chatra Shibir .

When the Awami League’s anti-strike procession reached Kazirhat under Bhujpur police station, microphones from the Kazirhat madrassa went ga-ga about the reported abduction of the head of the Emdadul madrassa Maulana Jalal Ahmed and the attack on Kazirhat mosque by musclemen from the Chatra League, the Awami League’s student affiliate.

Eye-witnesses, local public representatives, victims of the attack and local administration all testified to the ‘mischief’ by those inside the Kazirhat madrassa.

Jalal Ahmed is the former head of this large madrassa and continues to be known as “Boro Hujur” in the area.

Seven- eight mosques in the Bhujpur union also went full blast spreading the rumours, asking the villagers to turn up at the Bhujpur market.

Misinformation about the attack on Kazirhat Jame Masjid provoked thousands to gather at Bhujpur market and attack the anti-strike procession.

The Awami League was opposing the strike called by the Islami Chatra Shibir to demand release of their president Delwar Hussen.

“When the Awami league procession reached Kazirhat, 20-25 Jamaat supporters melted into the procession and provoked a clash that led to brickbats flying all over,” rickshawpuller Badi Alam said.

“As rumours about Maulana Jalal Ahmed’s abduction and the attack on the mosque spread, angry villagers from all sides attacked the Awami League procession,” Alam said.

The Awami league procession was a huge one with about 400 motorcycles , jeeps, vans in and several thousand party activists marching.

It had started from Azadi Bazar and was led by ATM Pyarul Islam, who had lost the last election from the area.

Eye-witnesses say the procession was attacked by an armed mob from both sides of Fatikchharhi-Heyako road.

The Awami Leaguers were outnumbered and outflanked. Three died, more than 150 were injured in what turned out to be an one-sided clash lasting for 90 minutes. One Awami League activist is still missing.

The mayhem was considerable – local administration say 200 motorcycles,three cars, three jeeps, five pick-up vans, one micro-bus and one fire service vehicle were burnt down by the mob.

“We were attacked by Jamaat-Shibir and Hifazat supporters in a Taliban-style pincer operation,” said Awami League leader Pyarul Islam. “

He blamed several Jamaat leaders for spreading the rumours of the attack on mosque and the abduction of the cleric by using the microphones of the mosques.

“The assault on the procession was well-planned,” said Chittagong district’s Additional Police Superintendent Farid uddin.”The religious sentiments of the locals were manipulated.”