Taazia processions held in Dhaka amidst tight security

Shia Muslims in Bangladesh have started observing Ashura amidst tight security in light of last year’s bomb attack on a taazia procession.

The main rituals will be performed on Wednesday but thousands of Shias took out two trademark taazia processions from Old Dhaka’s Hossaaini and Barha Katra on Monday evening.

DMP Deputy Commissioner Md Ibrahim Khan told bdnews24.com that the law-enforcing agencies were on alert. Intelligence agents had also been assigned, he said.

The two processions will merge near Chawkbazar Police Station. The Barha Katra procession will later break out and end at Urdu Road while the Imambarha or Hossaini Dalan procession will return to where it originated.

Hossaini Dalan or Imambarha is the venue for gatherings organised during the Islamic month of Muharram to commemorate the death of Imam Hussain, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad.

He died in the seventh century battle of Karbala on the 10th of Muharram, which has fallen on Wednesday this year.

Ashura is observed as a day of mourning in the memory of Hussain.

This year, police have imposed some restrictions, such as a ban on flag poles longer than 12 feet and sharp weapons, including swords, spears and knives, in the taazia processions.

The time for the processions have also been fixed from 6pm to 8pm on Monday, 6am to 12pm on Tuesday and from 10am to the Asr prayers on Wednesday.

Two persons died in the bombing of last year’s main taazia procession on Ashura.

Police have strengthened security this year also for Durga Puja which ends on Tuesday.