20 injured in Barguna shrine attack

Published : Monday, 17 March, 2025 at 5:08 PM Count : 307

Photo. Collected

At least 20 people were injured as the Ismail Shah Shrine at Bottola in Barguna's Amtali came under an arson attack during an urs earlier today.

The shrine's hall rooms and overhead covering to shade the devotees, were burned down in the attack allegedly carried out by the supporters of Amtali unit of Islami Andolan Bangladesh around 12:15am, said Mostafizur Rahman Babul, the shrine's custodian.

However, firefighters managed to extinguish the fire after nearly two hours of hectic effort around 2:45am.

Locals said that the shrine, established in 1996, usually organises a two-day urs festival every year. This year's event had begun yesterday evening.

But at midnight, a group of over 100 supporters of Islami Andolan Bangladesh's Amtali unit led by its president, Omar Faruq Jehadi, and general secretary, Gazi Bayezid, stormed the shrine and demanded an end to the rituals and music, the locals said.

According to the witnesses, when custodian Mostafizur Rahman Babul refused to halt the event, an altercation ensued between them. Eventually, the Islami Andolan supporters vandalised the shrine and beat up the devotees who were present during the festival, leaving 20 of them injured. Then, the attackers set the shrine on fire.

Of the injured, 11 were admitted to Amtali Upazila Health Complex for treatment while several others received first aid.

Upon receiving the news, Amtali Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Muhammad Ashraful Alam, Assistant Commissioner (Land) Md Tarek and Officer-in-charge (OC) Md Ariful Islam rushed to the scene and brought the situation under control.

Mostafizur Rahman Babul alleged that the attackers also looted donation boxes and assaulted the devotees. He said, "I demand punishment for those responsible."

Gazi Bayezid admitted that their supporters had gone to the shrine and urged the custodian to stop music and rituals during the month of Ramadan. He claimed, "When he (Babul) refused, his followers attacked Maulana Omar Faruq Jehadi that made them agitated and so they carried out a vandalism."

When asked, Maulana Omar Faruq Jehadi said, "This shrine is a den of frauds where drugs and immoral activities take place in the name of urs. We asked the custodian to stop these activities during the holy month of Ramadan, but he refused. Instead, his men attacked us. I demand punishment for Babul and his accomplices."

Dr Rashed Mahmud Roknuzzaman, medical officer at Amtali Upazila Health Complex, said the injured were receiving proper treatment.

Mohammad Hanif, warehouse inspector at Amtali Fire Station, said, "We controlled the fire by 2:30am, but the overhad covering and two halls were already destroyed."

OC Md Ariful Islam stated that police brought the situation under control and that legal action would be taken after investigation.

UNO Muhammad Ashraful Alam said, "Strict action will be taken against those involved in the incident."

FP/MI