Following attacks on temples, religious violence has now targeted shrines in Bangladesh. On Thursday, in the Homan Upazila of Cumilla, rioters set fire to three shrines. The arson resulted in one death and injuries to 22 others. The police have sealed off the entire area, considering the sensitivity of the religious issue.
According to reports, a dispute arose between locals and those associated with the shrines regarding Islam, which led to the arson. The police are investigating the entire incident and are initially focused on maintaining peace and order.
The targeted shrines belonged to Kafil Uddin Shah, Haweli Shah, and Abdu Shah. These individuals are highly revered in Bangladesh’s religious landscape. It is believed that they attempted to establish a sect separate from mainstream Islam during their time. After their deaths, shrines were established in Cumilla, which was also their hometown. The area has a significant number of followers of Shah’s shrine.
Two days prior to the incident, Mohsin, the grandson of Kafil Uddin Shah, made a controversial comment about Islam and the Prophet Muhammad on Facebook, leading to police action and Mohsin’s arrest. Subsequently, some locals gathered at Mohsin’s house. The police arrived and left after stating they would take action. An announcement was made over the local mosque’s microphone, after which a crowd reassembled at Mohsin’s house. This time, the crowd was aggressive, and they set fire to the three shrines. The police later managed to control the situation.
A British government report revealed that from August 2024 to December 2024, 133 places of worship were attacked in Bangladesh, with most being Hindu temples. There have also been reports of attacks on over 100 shrines or Sufi sites in Bangladesh. Mohammad Yunus, after becoming Chief Advisor in August 2024, pledged to reduce religious attacks, but he has so far been unsuccessful in this regard.
