Clash over burial of Nural Pagla: Case filed against 3,500 unidentified individuals over violence, attack on cops
The interim government stated yesterday that such acts "will not be tolerated" and assured that those responsible will be prosecuted with the full force of the law.
Police have filed a case against 3,000 to 3,500 unidentified individuals in connection with an attack on policemen and burning vehicles during yesterday's (5 September) violent clash in Goalanda Upazilla in Rajbari.
The clash, which left one person dead and nearly 50 others injured, took place at the "Darbar Sharif" (shrine) of Nurul Haque Molla, also known as "Nural Pagla", at Juran Mollar Para village under Ujanchar Union in the upazila.
The confrontation erupted when a procession of agitated crowds attacked the shrine, and the followers of Nural Pagla retaliated. During the violence, police trying to control the situation were attacked and police vehicles along with a civil administration's vehicle were vandalised.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
Goalanda Ghat Police Station Sub-Inspector Md Selim filed the case yesterday midnight citing assault on on-duty police officers, the station's Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md Rakibul Islam confirmed to The Business Standard today (6 September).
The violence was fuelled by a dispute over the burial of Nurul, who died on 23 August. His followers angered locals by painting his grave in the style of the Kaaba Sharif and declaring it a "Darbar Sharif of Hazrat Imam Mahdi (AS)."
On 26 August, the Imam Parishad of Goalanda called for a protest.
Despite attempts by the district administration to resolve the issue, clashes erupted after the Jummah prayers yesterday.
The mob later exhumed Nural Pagla's body, carried it to the Dhaka-Khulna highway, and set it on fire, a move the interim government has strongly condemned as "inhuman and despicable."
The army, police, civil administration, and Rapid Action Battalion intervened twice during the clashes, eventually bringing the situation under control by yesterday evening. Fire Service teams were also deployed to douse the flames.
The interim government stated that such acts "will not be tolerated" and assured that those responsible will be prosecuted with the full force of the law.
Either looted or set on fire
Meanwhile, at the time of filing this report, a tense situation prevails in the area today. The shrine, which consists of a three and another two-story buildings, has been reduced to rubble, and razed. Sticks and bamboo shoots can be seen near the grave site.
All furniture was either looted or set on fire. Curious onlookers have gathered at the scene.
A local, Aiyub Misha, said, "As long as he [Nural Pagla] was alive, these 'tawhidi janata' did not protest his practices nor did anyone talk about it. But after he died, they exhumed his body and then burned it in an open road."
"This act is morally wrong, no matter what religion they may follow," he added.
Other onlookers who came to see the after of the mob violence also shared the same sentiment as Abdul Malek and Idris Mondal shared, "as Muslims, they should not have exhume a dead body and burned it. It not in our religion to do such acts."
Meanwhile, Goalanda police OC Rakibul noted that they are conducting raids to arrest those involved in the violence and expressed hope to get results soon.
