Extremist Group Touhidi Janata Calls for Sureshwar Bari Urs to Be Cancelled

❐ Staff Correspondent

Protests have been held at the upazila administration and police station in Savar, Dhaka, demanding the cancellation of the Urs Sharif to be held on August 26-27 at the house of Sureshwar Pir’s follower Kazi Jaber Al-Jahangir. Leaders of local political and extremist religious organizations are leading these programs on behalf of this extremist group called Towhidi Janata.

They have submitted a memorandum to the upazila administration, Savar police station and several other departments, alleging that anti-Aqeedah statements were made at the Oras.

On Sunday, August 23, they submitted a written complaint (memorandum) to the Savar Upazila Executive Officer (UNO) and Savar Model Police Station in this regard.

The memorandum has been signed by 10 people on behalf of the extremist Tawheed Janata demanding a ban on Urs. Among them are three leaders of Hefazat-e-Islam, two leaders of BNP, one leader of Jubo Dal, one leader of Khilafat Andolon, one leader of Jamiat-e-Ulama-e-Islam, one activist of Jamaat-e-Islami and one local Pir (religious leader).

Allegations of extremist monotheistic people

Jaber Al-Jahangir is always a target of extremists because he has always been vocal in his support of Bangladesh’s independence and against extremist militants. The extremist groups accuse him of making statements that are against the faith. The accusers claim that an attempt is being made to mislead the Muslim community through his statements.

After August 5, Jaber Al-Jahangir’s house was attacked several times by mobs, and he was injured in front of the administration. He also filed a complaint with the police station for security reasons.

The charge sheet filed by extremists against Jabeh Al-Jahangir has demanded the cancellation of the Urs to be held at Jabeh Al-Jahangir’s house from August 25 to 27 and the withdrawal of the case filed against the extremist Tawheed Janata. It has also sought the intervention of the administration to avoid unwanted incidents.

Statement by Qazi Jaber Al-Jahangir

Rejecting the extremists’ allegations, Qazi Jaber Al-Jahangir said, “On September 30, 2024, a mob attack took place at my house. Many people, including my family members, were injured in that attack, and houses and vehicles were vandalized and looted. I filed a counter-case after a case was filed earlier by some locals in this incident.”

Jaber Al-Jahangir said that the propaganda being spread against him on religious matters is false. He does not want to engage in religious debates with anyone. If anyone objects, he is ready to sit in on a discussion in the presence of the administration with the evidence of the Quran and Hadith.

He said, “I have been holding Urs at home for about 19 years on the occasion of my father’s death. This time too, preparations have been made to hold the ceremony within the confines of the house. No pandal or microphone will be used outside, as has never been done before.”

Jaber Al-Jahangir said that there is a threat of a militant attack on his house during the Urs festival. He has filed a general diary (GD) with the police station and informed various levels of the administration about this.

Comments from the leaders of the extremist monotheistic crowd

The statement of leaders and activists of Hefazat-e-Islam, BNP, Khilafat Movement and Jamaat-e-Islami, who have demanded the ban on Urs on behalf of the extremist Tawheed Janata, was sought.

Regarding the reason for raising the demand to ban Urs, Khilafat Movement Secretary General Yusuf Sadiq said, “We have no personal enmity with him. There is no question of personal enmity with any person in the world. But he is misinterpreting Islam, giving wrong interpretations of the Quran and Hadith. His words are in conflict with the Quran and Hadith.”

He said, “Last year, there were some unwanted incidents related to these. Now we have held a meeting for a few days regarding his activities. It has been decided that since there is a law in the country, the government will intervene through the law and stop these activities.”

He further said, “We object to his anti-Islamic activities in the name of Urs. There is no problem for a non-believer to practice his religion. But no such work can be done in the name of Islam that has no resemblance to the Quran and Hadith.” We have gone to various government offices, made applications and talked to officials to stop these activities.

Ali Azam, Secretary General of Hefazat-e-Islam’s Dhaka District North Branch, also made a similar statement.

He claims that the “Tawheedi people” and scholars of the area demand that these anti-Aqeedah activities must be stopped.

Jamaat-e-Islami activist Aminul Islam Amin, who signed the memorandum, said, “Respected scholars and scholars of the area are monitoring the matter. They allege that Jaber Al-Jahangir is making objectionable statements and misinterpretations on Facebook and YouTube.”

Ali Ashraf Tayyab, president of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Savar Thana Committee, claims that their aim is not to stop the Urs. Their aim is to stop Jaber Al-Jahangir’s “un-Islamic activities.”

Savar Thana BNP Senior Vice President Saidul Ibne Hasib Sohel said, “Our main goal is to maintain peace and order in the area. One side wants Urs to be held there, the other side does not want it. There are differences of opinion. The dissatisfaction that has arisen in the area regarding the matter has been informed to the law enforcement agencies.”

He said, “As a public representative and a resident of Chakulia village, I want peace in the area. I do not want any unrest, fights, violence or hateful statements. I do not have special knowledge about Islamic matters. However, I do not want conflict to arise in the area.”

Mohammad Manju Mollah, former organizing secretary of Savar Thana Jubo Dal (current secretary candidate), said, “We don’t want to stop the Urs. We want to stop the things that happen there. We are on the side of the “Tawheed Janata” to maintain peace and order in the area. We have informed the law enforcement agencies.”

Administration’s statement

In this regard, Savar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md. Saiful Islam said, those who came with complaints have been advised to remain calm. A decision will be taken on the matter after sitting with the police administration.

Savar Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md. Saiful Alam said, this will be discussed. Senior officials have been informed. The police are vigilant to ensure that no untoward situation arises.

It is worth noting that on September 29, 2024, an attack was carried out on the shrine of Shah Sufi Syed Maulana Qazi Afsar Uddin Al-Jahangir Al Sureshwari and the house of his son, Sufi saint Qazi Jaber Al-Jahangir, in the Chakulia area of ​​Savar. There has never been a militant attack there before. Jaber Al-Jahangir’s logical statement calls for social awareness on various serious issues including extremism, militancy and suicide jihad, which is naturally disliked by extremists.