Attack on Shah Ali shrine part of pattern seen under Yunus government: TIB

There is no scope to label the violence as an “isolated incident”, it says

The Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has condemned the attack on the Shah Ali Baghdadi shrine in Dhaka’s Mirpur, describing it as a continuation of the violence that began during the previous interim government.

In a statement on Saturday, the graft watchdog also demanded that the perpetrators be punished.

“The attack on the shrine goes against the core spirit and purpose of Bangladesh’s independence and the July Uprising,” it reads.

According to the TIB, there is no scope to label the violence as an “isolated incident”.

TIB Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman said: “This shameless and cowardly attack is a continuation of the rise of forces against the folk traditions of Bangladesh during the interim government and the continuation of violent and conspiratorial activities against the pluralism, multi-religious, and cultural diversity of the country.

“There is no room to consider this an isolated incident. Rather, it is part of a far-reaching plan to develop communal forces by spreading hatred and violence in a well-planned manner and destroying the liberal folk traditions and culturally diverse practices of present-day Bengalis. This is a warning sign for all citizens who uphold free thought and tolerance.”

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-e-Islami and its student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir.

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

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

Followers of the shrine fear that Thursday night’s 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.

The TIB said, "It is not enough for Jamaat activists to simply deny the allegations of involvement.

“We urge them and other religion-based political parties to clarify their position on the issue, in addition to the core spirit of Bangladesh's independence and the July Movement, as well as the country's glorious culture of coexistence among traditional cultural, spiritual and social diversity.”