National

Panic grips Ahmadiyyas in Barisal, Patuakhali
Khatme Nabuat holds 'grand rally' at Patuakhali today, eviction drive tomorrow

About 27,000 people of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat in Barisal and Patuakhali districts are in panic following the eviction threat given by the Khatme Nobuat Committee.

They have applied to the distinct administrations for protection and security.

When contacted, sources in Barisal and Patuakhali district administrations said all steps will be taken to protect the Ahmadiyyas and maintain law and order.

The Barisal unit of International Khatme Nabuat Movement (IKNM) brought out a procession in Barisal city in support of the eviction programme, announced in Dhaka on May 6.

The Khatme Nobuat at a press conference in Dhaka on May 6 declared that Ahmadiyyas in Patuakhali will be evicted from their astanas (establishments) on May 12 and those in Chittagong on May 28.

At the press conference, Hafiz Mahmudul Hassan Momtazi, Amir of the Khatme Nobuat and Khatib of Rahim Metal Jame Mosque of Tejgaon, Dhaka detailed the eviction programme.

As per the schedule, Khatme Nobuat men will lay a siege to Ahmadiyya astanas (establishments) in Patuakhali town tomorrow and in Chittagong on May 28 and evict the members.

The Islamic Shashantantra Andolon (ISA), political party headed by the Chormiani Pir, has also extended its support to the move, it was told at the press conference.

The IKNM and ISA will jointly hold a Sirat Mahfil at Patuakhali Launch Ghat Jame Masjid field today after Asr prayers.

Mawlana Mahbubur Rahman, President of Patuakhali district ISA, will preside over the meeting. Mufti Nur Hossain Nurani will address it as chief guest.

Tomorrow, they will hold a grand meeting at Patukhali Shahid Alauddin Shishu Park and then proceed towards Ahmadiyya astanas to evict them.

They have already circulated leaflets in Barisal and Patuakhali detailing the programme and calling upon Muslims to join the move. The leaflets also called for declaring Ahmadiyyas non-Muslims.

Meanwhile, Delwar Hossain Dilip, chief of the Patuakhali district Ahmadiyya community, has said that about 20,000 people of his community live peacefully in Aliapur, Town Kalikapur, Baderpur, Lohalia in Patuakhali town and in some other areas of the district.

The Ahmadiyyas central mosque in Patuakhali town is at Mithapukur in Puran Bazaar area.

There are also Ahmadiyyas in Kalapara upazila Sadar and Kalagachhia in Galachipa upazila in Patuakhali district.

There are about 7,000 Ahmadiyyas in Barisal, Bakerganj and Barguna districts. They are in Patharghata upazila Sadar and Kukua in Amtali upazila; Krishnanagor, Khakhdon and Kawnia in Betagi upazila in Barguna district; Bamnikati in Bakerganj; and in Agailjhara and Gournadi in Barisal.