An Islamic preacher from Keraniganj was arrested on Thursday for comments that allegedly incited temple attacks over desecration of the holy Quran in Cumilla. The arrestee was identified as Maulana Abdur Rahim Biplobi,39, resident of Dholaipar in Dhaka. He was arrested at 7:20 am outside Chunkutia Purbapara Jame mosque under South Keraniganj police station by a team of Crime Investigation Department (cyber monitoring cell) led by inspector Mst Shajeda Lata. On October 13, Maulana Rahim in a waj mahfil in Dhaka said if the perpetrators who kept holy Quran with a Hindu idol don’t get arrested by October 14 an unruly protest will start from each mosque the next day after Jumma prayer. He also said, “No puja mandap will be spared in Bangladesh.” Maulana Rahim also blamed police for killings in Chandpur during communal violence and made extremist comments about the law enforcing forces. Read: Communal attacks in Bangladesh: 72 cases filed, 450 arrested His comments spread on social media created extreme reactions among the netizens and public, said CID in a press release. Also his comments had contributed to deterioration of law and order across the country, it said. Cyber monitoring cell of CID immediately marked Abdur Rahim after it came into their notice. In primary interrogation Abdur Rahim confessed to making inciting statements regarding puja mandaps in his waz, said CID. CID filed a case at the Paltan model police station against Abdur Rahim under the Digital Security Act.

Those who were involved in the Cumilla incident will be hunted down, said Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Chattogram Range Anwar Hossain. “Efforts are on to identify those involved in desecration of the holy Quran after checking the close circuit camera (CCTV) footage and the offenders will be hunted down,” said DIG Anwar while visiting the spot, Nanuar Dighirparh, in the morning. Meanwhile, additional security measures have been taken to avert any untoward incident, he said, adding, “The [law and order] situation in the area is still calm.” Already, four platoons of BGB members have been deployed and police and Rab are patrolling the area, he added. Two separate probe bodies—one by the local administration and another by the district police—will be formed to look into the incident. Also read: 1016 platoons BGB deployed Meanwhile, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader has warned that those involved in the Cumilla incident will be brought to justice and no offender will be spared. “It’s an act of an evil communal force, and those who attack Hindu temples won’t be spared either, even if they belong to any party,” Obaidul Quader said while addressing the Mahastami (8th day) of Durga Puja at KIB premises in the capital on Wednesday evening. He said a united resistance has to be built against those who want to destroy the communal harmony in the country before the national election. Besides, State Minister for Religious Affairs Md Faridul Haque Khan has urged the people of the country to exercise restraint and not to take law into their own hands over the desecration of the holy Quran in Cumilla. Also read: None of those involved in Cumilla incident to be spared: Obaidul Quader “Don’t take law into your own hands. Everyone should maintain religious harmony and peace,” he said in an emergency announcement on Wednesday evening. “We’re closely monitoring the situation in Cumilla. The local administration has been instructed to investigate what really happened [there].” he said. “Anyone involved in destroying religious harmony [in the country] must be brought under the ambit of law and arrangements be made to give proper punishment,” the state minister added.