The Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat, Bangladesh (AMJB) yesterday appealed to the government to take immediate action to prevent the religious fanatics from carrying out the threat to capture Ahmadiyya base at Bakshibazar tomorrow.
The AMJB called for the prompt government action at a press conference at Ahmadiyya Complex. It also cautioned people not to fall for the propaganda campaign against the sect by the religious radicals.
Ahmadiyya leaders said due to the ban on Ahmadiyaa publications, they can not refute the propaganda and false accusations against Ahmadiyaas.
They demanded the government lift the ban, which, they said to a certain extent amounts to instigating attacks on Ahmadiyya mosques across the country.
"A group of political mollahs and their assistants are trying to turn the country into a Taliban state with resort to violence," Meer Mobashwer Ali, Ahmadiyya Nayebe Amir, said referring to the extremist activities.
"They're making outrageous accusations against the founder of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat and trying to incite the peace-loving pious Muslims to violence against us," he said.
Mobashwer described the Khatme Nabuwat Andolon Parishad Bangladesh's claim that the High Court declared Ahmadiyyas non-Muslims in 1993 as a distortion of the facts.
"The truth is Justice MD Abdul Jalil and Justice Mohammad Fazlul Karim, on April 15, 1993, summarily rejected a writ petition that called for the government to declare the Kadianis (Ahmadiyyas) non-Muslims," he said,
Jamaat-e-Islami lawmaker Delwar Hossain Saidee made the false claim in his book titled 'Why Ahmadiyyas are not Muslim', he added.
The Ahmadiyya leaders referring to the bigots' demand of declaring Ahmadiyyas or any group non-Muslims, said it does not conform with Islamic rules that refuse to authorise any person, government or organisation to declare someone non-Muslim.
The High Court in its order on April 15, 1993 said, "……. We are of the opinion that the Government has no obligation nor power to decide or declare any person or group of persons as non-Muslim in order to safeguard sanctity of State religion and as such this application is not maintainable."
Fanatics under the banner of Aamra Dhakabashi recently announced that will invade the Ahmadiyya Complex at Bakshibazar on August 27 and say Juma prayers there to press the government to declare the Ahmadiyyas non-Muslims.
Meanwhile, South Asian People Union against Fundamentalism and Communalism (SAPUFC) has called for a civil society resistance to the fanatics' planned capture of Ahmadiyya base. Different political parties including the main opposition Awami League, Communist Party of Bangladesh, Workers Party and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal have extended support for the resistance programme.
Besides, eight legal aid and rights organisations, on August 17, sent Demand of Justice notice to authorities concerned including the home secretary, secretary for religious affairs and inspector general of police to take steps to ensure the safety of the Ahmadiyyas. The notice also asked the authorities to ensure the constitutional rights of the Ahmadiyaa community. The constitution of Bangladesh guarantees the freedom of religion.
Ain o Salish Kendro, Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust, Jatiya Ainjibi Parishad, Sammilito Samajik Andolon, Naripokkho, Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, Karmajibi Nari and Nijera Kori, in another notice yesterday reminded the authorities of taking steps to this end.