Sufi shrines across Bangladesh targeted by radicals and extremists

Since the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government on August 5, there has been a massive increase in hate speech and attacks against various religious groups and ethnic minorities in Bangladesh. One such group is the Sufi community in Bangladesh.

The Sufi community in Bangladesh has a huge following and supporters, but its non-violent nature has led to the wrath of hardliners and extremists.

The first attacks on Sufi shrines were reported on August 5 and 6. On September 6, a violent mob consisting of students, hardliners and local mosque imams stormed the premises of the Hazrat Shah Foran shrine in Sylhet after Friday prayers, along with local residents. Following this incident, the well-known Jamat e Islam Facebook ID “Basharkella” welcomed the protests and called for more protests and attacks on Sufi shrines and Khanqas (Sufi prayer places) across the country. Following the post, attacks on Sufi shrines increased dramatically.

Bangladesh has never seen such kind of attacks on Sufi shrines. The responsible groups include Jamaat-e-Islami, Hefazat Islam, Hizbut Tahrir and Ansarullah Bangla Team. According to the Dhaka Tribune, a popular Bangladeshi English daily, the total number of attacks is around 50. Bangladeshi observers claim that the number could be higher.