‘Sufi rebellion can topple govt’

A Sunni group has decided to hold a mass rally at Chittagong’s Laldighi on Tuesday demanding justice for its slain leader Nurul Islam Farooqi.

Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat said it would hold the rally demanding immediate arrest of Farooqi’s killers.

Speaking to reporters at the Chittagong Press Club on Monday, they said it would organise a ‘massive protest rally’ for Farooqi who was a central leader of the group.

The Islami Front leader, who hosted Islamic television shows for a private television channel, was killed by a group of assailants at his home in East Razabazar on Aug 28.

Three suspects, including a woman who admitted to visiting the victim at his home just hours before he was murdered, have been arrested and put on remand.

File Photo

But Ahle Sunnat leaders said there was no noticeable progress in police’s investigation and threatened to call ‘tougher protests’ from the Tuesday’s rally.

Islami Front student front Islami Chhatra Sena enforced a country-wide eight-hour strike on Sunday.

They suspect seven Islamic TV show hosts from other channels were involved in planning the murder.

Leaders of Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat said Islami Front, Islami Chhatra Sena and Sunni followers will gather at Laldighi on Tuesday.

“Sunnis have been on the streets to demand justice for Nurul Islam Farooqi. But still we don’t see progress,” said Central Member Secretary Mosaheb Uddin Bakhteyar.

“Top police officials investigating the case sounded disappointed at their last press briefing. They will not be allowed to prolong the investigation just to eyewash the public,” he said.

Bakhteyar further warned that government’s stay in power would become difficult if Sufis and Darvishes turn revolutionaries.