Gazipur imam 'abduction': Police find no involvement of any group, including Iskcon

Gazipur police have yet to find any evidence connecting an individual or group, including the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon), to the reported abduction of local imam Mufti Muhammad Mohibullah Miaji.

The Gazipur Metropolitan Police (GMP) disclosed the information in a press release yesterday (25 October), which was confirmed by Joint Commissioner of GMP Taherul Haque Chowhan.

According to the police, a case has already been filed with Tongi East Police Station over the incident. But they began their investigation before the case was even registered, considering the abduction of a senior Islamic scholar "a serious matter".

At the current stage of the investigation, no conclusive evidence has been found to implicate any individual or organisation, police said.  

Therefore, the police have urged all to refrain from blaming any party until the investigation is complete. They also called on the public to assist by providing any relevant information.

Earlier on Thursday morning (24 October), Gazipur's Tongi BTCL Colony Jame Mosque imam and khatib Mufti Mohibullah was rescued in a rural area of Panchagarh, a day after he went missing. 

He was found chained to a banana tree, with his legs tied, before locals rescued him and took him to hospital.

Speaking to journalists from his hospital bed, the 65-year-old said, "I was abducted by four to five men who forced me into an ambulance while I was walking by my home."

He claimed the abductors spoke Bangla fluently but did not sound Bangladeshi. They blindfolded him, assaulted him, and verbally abused him and even took away his mobile phone.

He also said he had been receiving anonymous threatening messages for the past 11 months, warning him against speaking about Islam or the Quran. 

He alleged, without providing further details, that he was being asked to support Iskcon and the idea of "Akhand Bharat."

Following his rescue, local Islamist groups in Panchagarh under the banner of "Iman-Aqidah Rakkha Committee" held protests in many places, demanding a ban on Iskcon.

Demonstrations were also held in Dhaka after Friday, with large gatherings at the north gate of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque. 

Similar rallies took place in Kamrangirchar, Uttara, Mirpur, Mohammadpur, Asad Gate, and Jigatola.

However, some analysts believe that blaming Iskcon before the investigation is complete may be part of a deliberate campaign by certain Islamist groups to incite religious tension. They warned that such actions could further complicate the situation and distract from identifying the real perpetrators.

At a press briefing on 23 October, General Secretary of Iskcon Bangladesh Charu Chandra Das Brahmachari said that the organisation is engaged in peaceful religious practice and humanitarian work. Their goal, he added, is to uphold minority rights, carry out welfare activities, and promote communal harmony.

He also said if intelligence agencies believe there is any truth to the allegations that have been raised, they will investigate the matter.