The Ahmadiya Muslim Jamaat, Bangladesh on Sunday urged the government to ensure security for their mosques, lives and properties.

   The organisation in a statement, signed by its general secretary, made the appeal after around 200 local people, led by Maulvi Wahiduzzaman, Shoeb Maulvi, Wadud Maulvi, attacked Ahmadiya men on Thursday at Dharmapur and Kazipara villages of Badarganj upazila.

   The hoodlums vandalised 12 houses and looted valuables, and also set books and documents of the Ahmadiyas on fire.

   They also beat up five Ahmadiya men, asking them to change their sect.

   Besides, at Shibpur village, one Abdul Karim, belonging to Ahmadiya, was beaten up. It has created panics among the locals, belonging to this sect, and many of them have already left their home.

   The extremists were also pursuing the majority-sect people to socially boycott the Ahmadiya men. Those who did not leave the village were passing their days amidst sheer insecurity, said the press statement.

   The statement alleged that despite repeated hammering the police administration did not take measures against the radicals. Rather, they arrested one Moksedul, 22, son of Azam Ali, of Dharmapur village, of the community, and sent him to jail.

   The people who still did not leave their residences have been “stranded” and are not getting food as the extremists are not allowing any one to enter the villages, said the statement.