The situation in Brahmanbaria, Bangladesh

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Ever Merciful
Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama'at, Bangladesh
Public Relations & External Affairs
4, Bakshi Bazar Road, Dhaka 1211
Tel: +88 02 7300808 Mobile (+88) 01713024413 Fax +88 02 7300925
Web: www.ahmadiyyabangla.org

The situation in Brahmanbaria. Bangladesh

The two days 63rd Annual Convention of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at, Brahmanbaria, a town about 100 km east of Dhaka has started on Friday, 19th March, 2010 amidst tense and threats from the Khatme Nabwat people and undue interference from local police at Kandipara under the Brahmanbaria Municipality (please see the Daily Star report).

In our previous report in Bangla (please see below) sent on Thursday, 18th March, 2010, we mentioned that local fanatic mollahs under the banner of “Tahaffuz-e-Khatme Nabuwat” was trying to ban the local Ahmadiyya Annual Convention and accordingly they were creating pressure on local law enforcing authorities. They sent a representation to the Deputy Commissioner, Superintendent of Police and local Member of Parliament to stop the convention. However, after several negotiations and representations from local Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at, the authorities permitted to hold the convention under following 7 (seven) conditions (!) signed by Mr. Mohammad Hamidul Islam, Officer In-Charge, Brahmanbaria Model Thana (Police Station):

1. The programme must be held inside the Ahmadiyya mosque.
2. Ahmadies will not be allowed to use microphone during the programme. 
3. The sound of the programme must not go outside of the mosque.
4. There should not be any political/anti-govt. talk.
5. There should not be any sorts of provocative comments and wrong religious interpretations.
6. The discussion must be confined to the teachings of the Holy Prophet (SAW)/and the Holy Qur’an.
7. Both the days the programme must be finished by 06:00 P.M.

This may be mentioned here that:

1. Ahmadies arranged the programme inside their own mosque. Almost all surrounding houses of the mosque are also owned by Ahmadies. 
2. Ahmadies didn’t set any extra microphone except the built-in sound system of the three storied mosque.
3. Ahmadies assured that the sound of the microphone will not go outside and will not be listen from outside.
4. Ahmadies NEVER discusses any political issues in their any programme/platform. The question of anti-govt. talk doesn’t arise as Ahmadies are always law abiding peaceful community which is proved in many occasions.
5. Ahmadies will be discussing their own issues as they normally do in all Jalsas. The question is who will determine the definition of “misinterpretation” and who has been entrusted with such authority ?
6. The printed progamme have published earlier mentioning the topics that are going to be discussed which is done in all Ahmadiyya Jalsas/conventions, which includes the teachings of holy prophet Hazrat Muhammad (SAW) and the Holy Qur’an. So, does the law enforcing authorities has any authority to fix the agenda ?
7. Is it justified to fix a time to finish the pogramme as that are going to be held in our own mosque and premises and the participants will offer Isha, Tahajjud and Fajr prayers in the mosque ?

Therefore, we feel that the above conditions imposed by the local police and local authorities are clear violation of basic human rights and freedom of religion ensured by our constitution.

This may be mentioned here that during the inaugural session that was on Friday, 19th March, 2010, after the Juma prayers, police entered to our Brahmanbaria mosque and asked our local authorities to switch off the internal microphone. Our reply was it was the internal sound system and people had been listening the proceedings sitting at the 1st and ground floors as the main speeches were delivered from the 2nd floor. Therefore, if the microphones were switched off then they would not be able to listen the speeches. Moreover, the sounds of the speeches were not going outside, even it was not been heard from the adjacent room of the mosque where the police officers were sitting. But the Second Officer of the Brahmanbaria Police Station became angry with us and in a commanding voice said, “Don’t argue with me, you have been asked to switch off the sound system and you do so, otherwise face the consequences”.

This may also be noted here that a group of fanatic mollahs under the banner of “Tahaffuz-e-Khatme Nabuwat” was trying to create anarchism and was chanting slogans “দাও লও, কুড়াল লও, কাদিয়ানীর কেল্লা লও” (“take lethal weapons, take axes, and behead the Qadianies (Ahmadies)” even in presence of law enforcing authorities and local Member of Parliament. And NO action was taken against them.

Foundation of Ahmadiyyat in Bangladesh and Brahmanbaria: The Ahmdiyya Muslim Jama’at in Bangladesh was first established in Brahmanbaria in 1912 by Hazrat Maolana Syed Abdul Wahed sahib (Rah.) who was a great saint of that area and was known as “Boro Maolana Sahib”. As he accepted the Ahmadiyya Muslim belief and took biat at the hands of the first Khalifa of the Holy Founder of the Jama’at, whom Ahmadies believes as Imam Mahdi, hundreds of people of that area and surroundings became Ahmadi.

In 1987, the central Ahmadiyya Mosque of Brahmanbria town “Masjid Mubarak” was forcefully captured by the religious fanatics/mullahs under the banner of “Tahaffuz-e-Khatme Nabuwat” and the then police authority helped them to capture that as the police in the name of “safeguarding” asked all Ahmadies who were inside the mosque to vacate and later handed over that to the mollahs. The mollahs renamed the mosque as “Masjid Fatah” or the “Conquered Mosque” and later established a Madrassa adjacent to the mosque. Since then the mosque and other three mosques around the Brahmanbaria area named: Ahmadiyya Mosque in Ghatura, Ahmadiyya Mosque in Bhadugarh and Ahmadiyya Mosque in Kharampur have been illegally occupied by the mollahs. All the mosques were legally owned and built by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at. Our Jama’at appealed various governments during the last 21 (till 2008) years to restore those mosques from illegal occupations and hand over them to the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at, which has the legitimate rights to own them. But unfortunately no heed was given to the appeal. Now, we further appeal to this democratic government, who led our liberation war and committed to up-hold the spirit of our liberation movement and establish a non-communal, secular Bangladesh to take necessary steps to free our mosques from illegal occupations and hand over them to us.

Ahmadiyya Muslims of Brahmanbaria town were not allowed to hold their Jalsa Salana (Annual Convention) since 1987 due to the resistance of Khatme Nauwat people and it was only from 2007 ( during the last care taker govt. and present AL Govt. came to power in 2009) Ahmadies were able to hold their Jalsa inside their mosques. This year it is the 63rd Jalsa Salana.

Background of “Tahaffuz-e-Khatme Nabuwat”: The “Tahaffuz-e-Khatme Nabuwat” is an organization, which’s Headquarters is in Multan of Pakistan and had close attachment with Jamate Islami Pakistan. The then Head of Tahaffuz-e-Khatme Nabuwat, Bangladesh Khatib of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque Obaidul Haq (now deceased) visited Pakistan many times and had several meetings with the leaders of Jamate Islami Pakistan, that came in the news papers of Pakistan and Bangladesh in mid 90’s. Various Pakistani mollahs also visited Bangladesh since 1992 and attended, delivered lectures in anti-Ahmadiyya rallies, organized “Khatme Nabuwat Training Courses” etc. at various mosques in Bangladesh. All these news came to our national news papers.

Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at was repeatedly warning all concerned since early 90’s through Press Conferences/various discussions that all anti-Ahmadiyya movements are basically anti-Bangladesh activities under a “religious” coverage and they are trying to import militancy to our country. Now it is a proven truth.

Our Appeal: So, we hope that the government will not show any sort of softness to any anarchy in the name of religion or “religious feelings” and will handle any such attempt by the fanatics in iron hand. We hope that the government will uphold the constitutional rights of all citizens of the country as given by the constitution. Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at always assures and proved their allegiance to the laws of the land. We pray and work for the peace, prosperity and development of our beloved motherland. Ahmadies all over the world are acknowledged and recognized as a peaceful, law abiding religious community with NO political agenda. We also appeal that the government will take necessary steps to restore all our 4 (four) mosques now illegally occupied as mentioned above and will hand-over them to us.

ব্রাহ্মনবাড়ীয়াতে আহমদীয়া সম্মেলন বন্ধের চেষ্টা

আগামীকাল শুক্রবার ও পরশু শনিবার ১৯ ও ২০ মার্চ, ২০১০, আহমদীয়া মুসলিম জামা'ত, ব্রাহ্মনবাড়ীয়া তাদের ৬৩তম সালানা জলসা বা বার্ষিক সম্মেলনের আয়োজন করেছে। শহরের কান্দিপাড়ায় অবস্থিত নবনির্মিত নিজস্ব মসজিদ "বাইতুল ওয়াহেদ" প্রাংগনে দু'দিনব্যাপী উক্ত জলসার আয়োজন করা হয়েছে। কিন্তু এ সংবাদে স্থানীয় কিছু উগ্রপন্থী মোল্লা "খতমে নবুয়তের" ব্যানারে উক্ত শান্তিপুর্ণ জলসা যা মসজিদ কমপ্লেক্সের অভ্যন্তরে অনুষ্ঠিত হবে এবং বাইরে থেকে কোনো বক্তব্য শুনা যাবেনা তা বন্ধ করতে জোড় ততপরতা চালিয়েছে। তারা ইতিমধ্যে শহরের বিভিন্নস্থনে মিছিল-সমাবেশ করে জনগণের মধ্যে বিভ্রান্তি ছড়ানোর চেস্টা চালায় এবং স্থানীয় প্রশাসন এবং স্থানীয় সংসদ সদস্যের কাছে জলসা বন্ধের আবেদন জানিয়ে চাপ প্রয়োগের চেস্টা চালিয়ে যাচ্ছে বলে সংবাদ পাওয়া গেছে।

আহমদীয়া মুসলিম জামা'ত, ব্রাহ্মনবাড়ীয়ার প্রতিনিধিবর্গ ইতিমধ্যে স্থানীয় প্রশাসন ও মাননীয় সংসদ সদস্যকে তাদের শান্তিপুর্ণ ও সম্পুর্ণ অভ্যন্তরীন ধর্মীয় অনুষ্ঠান নির্বিঘ্নে পালন করার ক্ষেত্রে যাতে কোনরূপ বাধার সৃস্টি করা না হয় সেবিষয়ে নিশ্চয়তা বিধানের আবেদন জানিয়েছে। আবেদন ও আলোচনার পর তারা আহমদীদেরকে তাদের অনুষ্ঠান করার অনুমতি দিয়েছেন বলে জানা গেছে। তথাপি কোন কোন মহল জলসা যাতে অনুষ্ঠিত হ'তে না পারে সেজন্য নানারূপ ততপরতা চালিয়ে যাচ্ছে বলে সংবাদ পাওয়া গেছে।

উল্লেখ্য যে, ১৯৮৭ সালে উগ্রপন্থী মোল্লারা "খতমে নবুয়তের" ব্যানারে আহমদীদের পুরনো মসজিদ 'মসজিদ মোবারক" যেটিও কান্দিপাড়ায় অবস্থিত (বর্তমানে এর নাম দেয়া হয়েছে "মসজিদে ফাতাহ" অর্থাত "বিজিত মসজিদ" !), সেটি সহ ব্রাহ্মনবাড়ীয়া অঞ্চলের মোট চারটি মসজিদ জোড়পূর্বক দখল করে নেয়, বিভিন্ন সময়ে বিভিন্ন সরকারের কাছে আবেদন জানিয়েও দখলকৃত মসজিদগুলি যা আহমদীদের নিজস্ব স্থানে ও নিজস্ব অর্থায়নে নির্মিত উদ্ধার করা বা ফেরত পাওয়া সম্ভব হয়নি। সেই সাথে ব্রাহ্মনবাড়ীয়ার স্থানীয় আহমদীগণ বাধার কারণে দীর্ঘদিন কোন জালসা করতেও সক্ষম হননি। বিগত তত্বাবধায়ক সরকারের আমল এবং বর্তমান সরকার ক্ষমতায় আসার পর থেকে স্থানীয় আহমদীগণ পুণরায় তাদের জলসা করতে সক্ষম হয়েছেন।

আমরা আশা করব যে, আমাদের মুক্তিযুদ্ধে নেতৃত্বদানকারী ও মুক্তিযুদ্ধের চেতনার দাবীদার সরকার কোন বিশেষ মহল বা গোষ্ঠির দাবীর কাছে নতীস্বীকার না করে সকল ধর্ম, সম্প্রদায় ও মতকে তাদের নিজস্ব ধর্মকর্ম পালনের অধিকার নিশ্চিত করে অসাম্প্রদায়ীক ও ধর্মনিরপেক্ষ বাংলাদেশ গড়ার প্রাতিশ্রুতি পালনে সচেস্ট হবেন; এবং সেই সাথে আহমদীদের দখল হয়ে যাওয়া চারটি মসজিদ ফিরিয়ে দেয়ার বাস্তব পদক্ষেপ গ্রহন করবেন।

নিবেদক-
আহমদ তবশির চৌধুরী
প্রেস সেক্রেটারী
আহমদীয়া মুসলিম জামা'ত, বাংলাদেশ