Netrokona Lalon follower reopens business despite 'threats from fundamentalists'

A ‘Lalon follower’ has reopened his store in Netrokona with the support of locals and police, two weeks after threats from a ‘fundamentalist group’ forced him to close it.

The ‘Shetu Shilpaloy’, a gold jewellery store in Kendua Upazila’s Chirang Bazaar, had been closed since Dec 1.

The shop was reopened by owner Nur-e-Alam in the presence of police, local businessmen and a freedom fighter.

Alam is a resident of Gogda village, nearly two kilometres from the marketplace. He has been the store's proprietor for the past 18 years.

On Dec 1, around 7pm, a nearby mosque’s imam Mawlana Shafiqul Islam, Mawlana Abdul Mannan, Kabirul Islam Kabir and Abu Taher Milky visited ‘Shetu Shilpaloy’, Nur-e-Alam told bdnews24.com.

The four told him to forsake the path of ‘Lalon Shah’, the Bengali Baul saint, and ‘Bangladesh Tarikat-e-Ahle Bait’ and beg forgiveness, or leave the marketplace, alleged Nur-e-Alam.

He had been scared to open his shop ever since, he said.

According to Alam, around 8pm on Wednesday night, a local freedom fighter named Md Shahjahan Miah gathered together some local businessmen and told Alam to open the store in their presence.

He says there have been no problems since.

Shahjahan Miah said that an extremist group has been persecuting Lalon followers in the area. The group has been trying to stir unrest by making false allegations against them, he said.

“When I heard of the matter from the police OC yesterday, I gathered some local businessmen and made arrangements to open the store,” he said.

The Kendua Police Station OC Shirajul Islam said that immediate steps had been taken to open the store after police came to know of the incident.

Abu Taher Milky told bdnews24.com that he and the other three had not threatened Nur-e-Alam and denied the occurrence of the confrontation.

Bauls and Lalon Fakir represent the unique syncretic Bengali culture. but are an eyesore for hardline fundamentalists.