11 Ahmadiyya Muslim families 'ostracised' in Kushtia village

Eleven Ahmadiyya Muslim families at a village in Kushtia's Mirpur have reportedly been facing social exclusion for offering prayers separately as per their rites.

The members of the 11 families at Mohishakhali village of Chitholia Union have alleged they are not allowed to buy at local shops and are barred from using any transport.

A teacher of the minority Muslim group has also allegedly been driven out from the local school of BRAC.

Ranjana Khatun, who lost her job, told bdnews24.com that the other Muslims in the area tagged her as a 'Christian'. "They said their children would become Christian if I teach them," she alleged.

Rina Khatun, a twelfth-grade student of Sagarkhali College, said the vans and auto-rickshaws in the area do not take her to her college following a local ‘decree’ by other Muslims in the area.

The other members of the minority Muslim group made similar allegations.

They said 'Sattar', a member of local union council, local Juba League leader 'Zia', one 'Anis' and several others held a meeting on Feb 20 and pronounced them 'Ekghore' or 'ostracised'.

They alleged Chotholia Union Chairman Gias Uddin backed the decision.

Farid Ahmed, a member of one of the Ahmadiyya families, said they recently started arranging Juma prayers at their community as the nearest Ahmadiyya mosque is around 12 kilometres away.

"The other Muslims barred us and pressured to offer prayers led by the same imam. They became angry when we defied them," he said.

Anis denied the allegations, saying, "We just asked them to offer prayers together."

Juba League leader Zia claimed he 'only arbitrated' the dispute between the local groups of Muslims.

Union Council Chairman Gias said he 'calmed down' the situation.

"Everyone assured me of not repeating incidents like barring anyone from shopping or using transport or irrigating land," he said.

Mirpur Upazila Executive Officer Mahbubur Rahman, who visited the area recently, declined to comment on the issue, saying that the media 'always exaggerate small issues'.