Sufi shrines across Bangladesh target of radicals and extremists

After the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government on August 5, there has been a massive rise of hate speech and attacks on different religious groups and minorities in Bangladesh. One such group is the Sufi community of Bangladesh.

Although Sufi community in Bangladesh has a very large number of followers and supporters but due its non-violent nature, they faced ire of hardliners and radicals.

The initial attack on Sufi shrines was reported on 5th and 6th August. On the 6th of September, an unruly crowd comprising students, hardliners and local mosques imam along with locals stormed the premises of Hazrat Shah Poran Shrine in Sylhet after Friday prayers. Following the incident a well-known Jamat e Islam facebook ID “Basharkella” welcomed the protest and called for attacks and more protest against sufi shrines, and Khanqa’s (Sufi places of prayers) throughout the country, the attacks on Sufi shrines increased sharply after the post.

Bangladesh has never seen this kind of attack on Sufi Shrines. Those responsible include Jamaat-e-Islami, Hefazat Islam, Hizbut Tahrir and Ansarullah Bangla Team members. According to renowned Bangladeshi English daily- The Dhaka Tribune the total number of attacks are around 50. This number could be more, alleged Bangladesh watchers.