Reacting to Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir calling the Ahmadiyya community’s recent religious event in Panchagarh “controversial”, a spokesperson of the community said it “goes against their constitutional right”. “The government gave permission to hold this controversial event,” Fakhrul said in a press conference on March 13, video of which has generated reaction among netizens on social media. Speaking on the issue, Ahmad Tabsir Chowdhury, a spokesperson for the Ahmadiyya community, said, “First, Mirza  Fakhrul puts the blame squarely on the government, saying the attack on our religious event was staged by the government to divert public attention, and now he finds it convenient to call our congregation ‘controversial’.” Also Read: Fakhrul says govt allowed the Ahmadiyya religious event, calls it ‘controversial’ Referring to their constitutional right, Ahmad said, “Our religious gathering was set to be held within our premises. We have a right to hold such peaceful events.” Ahmad questioned: “How can he disregard our rights by calling our congregation ‘controversial’? We didn’t seek permission from the government to hold our event in a busy commercial area like Paltan in Dhaka. Rather, we planned to hold it inside our premises, it was on our property.” “When such irresponsible remarks come directly from a major political leader like Fakhrul, we are gravely disheartened,” the Ahmadiyya community spokesperson said. He further requested all political parties to at least maintain a modicum of decency while making comments on issues involving any minority community. Also Read: Govt orchestrated attacks on Ahmadiyya only to gain political mileage: Fakhrul Fakhrul’s remark came at a time when Basherkella – a pro-Jamaat-e-Islami Twitter account – condemned police action to stop the violence over the Ahmadiyya religious event and called for “boycotting” the community. The Ahmadiyya community has called it a “hate campaign” against them. Meanwhile, Jamaat-e-Islami’s Acting Secretary General Maulana ATM Masum issued a statement on March 5, asking the government to officially declare the Ahmadiyya community “non-Muslim”.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmud today said that the recent attacks on the Ahmadiyya community in Panchagarh were similar to 2013, 2014 and 2015 anarchies carried out by BNP-Jamaat, and that the recent attacks were “monitored from Dhaka and London.” “They had planned to create a mess in the whole country by spreading rumours and carrying out violence in Panchagarh,” the minister said while visiting the areas where the attacks took place in Ahmednagar under Boda upazila of Panchagarh district. "We have come here on behalf of Awami League to see the mindless violence that was carried out on the Ahmadiyya community on March 2, 3 and 4. There were provocations before the heinous attacks similar to those of 2013, 2014 and 2015,” added the minister. He said the attacks were carried out after organised incitements. “The attacks were carried out as part of a grand plan of those who want to fish in muddy waters and want to create instability in Bangladesh.” He said everyone knows who operates ‘Basher Kella’ on social media platforms. Provocations were spread from the page, and from the pages of BNP leaders Rumin Farhana and former lawmaker Harun-or-Rashid, he claimed. Most attackers were BNP-Jamaat supporters though they used another banner, said Hasan. He said the attackers set fire to Morshed Mia's home, the general secretary of AL Ward-9 unit under Dhakkamar union. He added that attacks were carried out on police boxes and the home of Jubo League municipality unit vice president Shahin Alam. The minister said the terrorists had tried to launch attacks on DC and SP offices while they torched the vehicle of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB). He said that Islam never allows attacks on anyone in the name of religion and the Prophet (PBUH) never endorsed burning people’s houses like this. "Those who carry out acts of violence against others in the name of Islam are enemies of Islam," said Hasan. Hasan Mahmud urged all to resist the enemies, saying the government is determined to ensure exemplary punishment for the attackers. Railways Minister Nurul Islam Sujan, AL Organising Secretary Sujit Roy Nandi, AL Panchagarh district unit general secretary Anowar Sadat, deputy commissioner (DC) Md Jahurul Islam and police superintendent SM Sirajul Huda, among others, were present. Later, the minister joined a peace rally in front of AL Panchagarh district unit office.  

Six cases have been filed and 81 people arrested in connection with the clashes between police and Muslim devotees over ‘Salana Jalsa’ event of the Ahmadiyya community on Friday (March 03, 2023). Among those, police filed four cases with Panchagarh Sadar Police Station, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) filed two cases and Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat another case. A total of 31 named people and 8,200 unnamed ones were made accused in the cases on various charges including spreading rumours, attacks, vandalism, looting and obstructing government work, according to police. Fazle Rabbi, 28, of the Rajnagar area and Rabbi Emon, (26) of the Satmera area of Tentulia upazila were arrested for spreading rumours on Facebook. Also Read: ‘Rumours against Ahmadiyya’: BNP leader among 19 held Ismail Hossain Jhanu, 25, of the Rajangarh area of Panchagarh municipality and Rasel Hossain, 28, of the Tular Danga area of the municipality were arrested in connection with the murder of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat engineer Zahid Hasan. Besides, 77 people were shown arrested in the cases filed by the police and Rab on several charges and they were sent to jail through a court. According to police and case statements, sub-inspectors Masud Rana, Saidur Rahman, Shamsuzzoha Sarker,  Altaf Hossain, and DAD Abdus Samad on behalf of Rab-13 filed the cases at Panchagarh Sadar Police Station on March 4 night. Osman Ali, father of engineer Zahid Hasan, filed a case on behalf of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat in connection with the murder. No one was named in the case, but 400 unnamed people were made accused. Also Read: ‘Hate campaign’ being run against Ahmadiyyas on Twitter, says member of community Police said two people who were allegedly directly involved in Zahid’s murder have been arrested. They gave confessional statements in connection with the murder. Panchagarh Superintendent of Police SM Sirajul Huda said the situation is under control now. Members of the police, Border Guard Bangladesh and RAB have been deployed at different points, he said. “We are investigating the incident and arresting those involved. No matter who the attackers are, they will not be spared. Raids are on to arrest the other accused,” said the SP. Read More: Clash over Ahmadiyya event: Law enforcers on high alert to avoid further trouble in Panchagarh  Earlier, on Friday, two people were killed and at least 50 others including policemen were injured in the clash between a section of Muslim devotees and police during a protest march of the devotees demanding the closure of an Ahmadiyya community’s event in Panchagarh district town. Later on Saturday, a vested interest group spread rumours in different parts of the district town and on social media saying that some Ahmidyya community members slaughtered two Muslims. Following the rumours, some young people equipped with sticks and sharp weapons blocked roads, carried out arson attacks, and looted shops and houses of the Ahmadiyya community. Read More: 20 hurt in clash between two BCL factions while paying homage at CU