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Anti-Ahmadiyya group issues fresh threat
Staff Correspondent

An alliance of Muslim fundamentalists yesterday took oath to launch a holy war (jihad) against Ahmadiyyas if the government does not declare them non-Muslims by January 9.

The orthodox group Hifajate Khatme Nabuwat Andolon (HKNA, the movement to conserve the right of the last prophet) claims Ahmadiyyas, followers of Mirza Golam Ahmad Kadiyani, are heretics and dishonouring Islam by identifying themselves as Muslims.

“We hereby are taking oath to cleanse the society of anti-Islam elements (Ahmadiyyas) as time has put the responsibility on us as imandar (faithful) Muslims,” some 3,000 HKNA diehards vowed from a demonstration at Mirpur-1 in the city yesterday.

“Since the government, which was expected to declare them non-Muslims and evict them from their mosques, is indifferent to its duties, we, as custodians of Islam, have to shoulder the responsibility and do the necessary,” said Mahmudul Hasan Mamtazi, amiir of the Andolon.

“We will either die as martyrs or live as gazis (victors), but will ensure that no-one dares to speak against or stigmatises Islam till there is a drop of blood in our veins,” he vowed, echoed by the participants of the gathering, organised to drum up support for a January 9 demonstration at Nakhalpara in the city to drive out Ahmadiyyas from their mosque there.

Beware, we haven’t taken to the street for any petty target. As still there is time, pay attention to us and declare the Ahmadiyyas non-Muslims. Otherwise, you will find no way to avoid bloodshed. Nur Hossain Nurani

“We will also simultaneously gherao (lay siege to) other Ahmadiyya mosques across the country the same day,” he added.

The HKNA organised the demonstration in front of Shah Ali Complex at Mirpur-1 with its executive president Mostafa Azad in the chair, after Juma prayers.

Yesterday’s demonstration was the last of a series carried out since November 21 designed to cover the whole city to get support for their January 9 ultimatum.

“Get ready for a war, turn your blood into petrol to burn all anti-Islamic elements,” HKNA vice president Nur Hossain Nurani urged the participants.

“Beware, we haven’t taken to the street for any petty target,” he warned the government.“ As still there is time, pay attention to us and declare the Ahmadiyyas non-Muslims. Otherwise, you will find no way to avoid bloodshed.”

HKNA Joint Secretary General Nazmul Haq said, “Call a special session of the Jatiya Sangsad before January 9 and pass a law to declare the Ahmadiyyas non-Muslims.”

“None can accept Ahmadiyyas’ claim of being Muslims and their places of worships as mosques while they identify their leader Mirza Golam Ahmad as the last prophet,” said Shamsul Haq, president of Aamra Dhakabashi, a socio-cultural organisation.

The participants later brought out a procession which ended in front of the Chhayaneer Super Market at Mirpur 1.

Offering prayers there, the anti-Ahmadiyyas took oath for the jihad.

Earlier at 10:00am, police took away loudspeakers from the meeting venue giving rise to a tense situation. However, no violence took pace as the police returned the horns in the face of the HKNA leaders’ demand.

“They did not have any permission, nor even sought for one to stage any rally there,” said Assistant Commissioner of Police (Mirpur Zone) Kamrul Ahsan. “When we pointed this out, they reacted violently,” he said.