Staff Reporter:
A group identifying itself as “Tawhidi Janata” is disrupting cultural and recreational events across the country, particularly targeting Urs and women’s activities, with growing concerns that the group may be linked to political forces attempting to destabilise the current interim government.
The group’s recent attacks on religious and cultural events, including the annual Urs and women’s football matches, have sparked fear, and some local organisers allege that factions within the ousted fascist Awami League are involved in the disruptions.
Over the past weeks, “Tawhidi Janata” has disrupted at least 10 events, including Urs and women’s football matches, in various parts of the country.
Besides, a number of organisers had no option but to cancel their annual Urs after being resisted by the group.
They alleged that they sought legal help from law enforcers and local administration but to no avail.
Disputes and alleged extortion attempts are reported to be underlying motives behind the disruptions, particularly concerning the Urs, which are primarily observed by followers of Sufism.
Prof Shamsul Alam of the Department of Islamic Studies at Dhaka University (DU) said, “Islam is against anarchy. Doing these things in the name of Tawhidi Janata is not acceptable to Islam.”
Former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mohammad Nurul Huda said the activities in the name of “Tawhidi Janata” are illegal.
Nunnu Mia, widely known as “Nunnu Pagla”, arranges three-day Urs every January behind his house at Palerchar in Zajira of Shariatpur. Like previous years, he prepared to arrange the annual gathering this year too.
However, a section of people under the banner of “Tawhidi Janata” prevented him from arranging it.
Finally, Nunnu failed to observe his annual Urs where thousands of people used to gather from different parts of the country.
When contacted, Nunnu told the Daily Sun that the members of the Awami League and Jamaat, and madrasah teachers and students prevented Urs.
A resident of the area told the Daily Sun that Nunnu has previous enmity with his neighbours over land and other issues.
The neighbours, who belong to Awami League, had a hand behind the disruption to the Urs, they said.
At Ashulia on the outskirts of the capital, a group of transgender people (Hijras), led by Rashida Hajji, planned to hold their annual Urs on 1-3 February. However, they also faced opposition from the “Tawhidi Janata”.
They formed a human chain at Chalapara at Shimulia of Ashulia on 19 January to protest the obstruction of their event.
A similar incident occurred at the Kutubbagh Darbar Sharif in Tejgaon, Dhaka where a large group ransacked the stage and demanded the cancellation of the Darbar’s annual Urs on 28 January.
They also formed a human chain demanding stopping the annual Urs.
The football matches of women were cancelled in Akkelpur of Joypurhat and Hakimpur of Dinajpur on Wednesday after a section of people under the banner of “Tawhidi Janata” protested the matches.
In Joypurhat, the mob vandalised the tin-shed fences of Tilokpur High School where the women’s football match was going to be held.
Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Akkelpur Manjur Alam said the people in the name of devotees out the attack.
Also on the same day, film actress Opu Biswas could not participate in a programme at Kamrangirchar in the capital after being resisted by the “Tawhidi Janata”.
Opu Biswas was the guest to inaugurate a restaurant at Kamrangirchar. However, she could not go there as a section of people opposed her presence.
Amirul Islam, officer-in-charge of Kamrangirchar police station, said the matter was informed to the deputy commissioner (Lalbagh Crime Division) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police.
Former IGP Nurul Huda stressed the need for government intervention. “The government should stop this mob violence and ensure security for these events,” he said.
“There’re established administrative processes for resolving disagreements. Publicly breaking the law sends a dangerous signal and undermines the authority of the state,” he said, expressing concern about the government’s apparent inaction.
Prof Syed Abdullah Al Maruf of the DU’s Department of Arabic said the government needs to clarify what it wants.
“If the current mob culture in the country continues, the country’s independence and sovereignty will be at risk. It will become a failed state. No one will be able to handle it,” he said.
Meanwhile, the interim government on Thursday expressed deep concern over incidents of women being prevented from engaging in recreational activities.
The Press Wing of the Chief Adviser’s Office in a statement said the government has ordered district administration in Dinajpur and Joypurhat to take the necessary steps to resume the stalled football matches.
The government will take stern action against any attempt to discriminate against or oppress any group of citizens, said the statement.
