Three arrested after Jamaat activists sued over Shah Ali shrine attack in Mirpur

Police, however, are not sure if the arrestees were named in the case

Police have arrested three suspects after a devotee filed a case against at least 100 members of Jamaat-e-Islami and its affiliate organisations over the attack on the Shah Ali Baghdadi shrine in Dhaka’s Mirpur.

Shah Ali Police chief Jahangir Alam said the plaintiff accused nine identified and 100-150 unknown members of Jamaat and its associate platforms on Saturday evening.

He said the arrestees are Arman, Russell and Azam – all identified by a single name.

The police officer, however, could not confirm if they were named in the case.

“A woman named Reshmi Begum, who was injured in the attack, filed the case,” he said, adding that the three were arrested from parts of Mirpur after being identified through CCTV footage.

“Our operation is under way to arrest other suspects."

The police officer also could not say whether they were members of any party.

Miscreants attacked and vandalised the shrine during an Urs or religious ritual on Thursday night.

Several devotees who were present at the shrine claimed that the attackers were affiliated with Jamaat and its student wing, Islami Chhatra Shibir.

However, the local Member of Parliament from Jamaat, Mir Ahmad Bin Qasem (Barrister Arman), denied that any members of his party were involved.

Police primarily gave different versions of what had taken place, with accounts varying between an anti-drug drive and an unauthorised operation carried out by local groups.

Followers of the shrine fear that the attack may be part of the ongoing wave of attacks and vandalism targeting shrines and Sufi sites across the country since Aug 5, 2024.

According to them, members of Jatiotabadi Jubo Dal, the youth wing of the ruling BNP, had also attacked the shrine a week ago in the name of an anti-drug drive.