Protect Ahmadiyyas from Attacks: Harry Thomas

Janankantha report: Members of the Ahmadiyya community in remote parts of Satkhira still fear an attack by Khatme Nabuwwat. Though the relatives and near ones of the injured and afflicted persons are intending to file cases with police, the police are not registering the cases in fear of repercussions from local jamat leaders. Meanwhile US Ambassador Harry K Thomas on Friday visited the central headquarters of the Ahmadiyya Jama’t and strongly criticized the attacks and persecution of this minority community. He urged the government as well as the civil society to protect the Ahmadiyyas from the ominous intentions of hardline extremist groups.

It has been learnt that hearing of the meeting of the US Ambassador with the Ahmadiyya leaders, Satkhira District Commissioner Mohammad Ilyas and SP Abdur Rahim PPM quickly visited the villages inhabited by Ahmadiyyas. On Friday they went to the village and had meetings with local leaders of Jama’te Islami, hard-liners of Khatme Nabuwwat and members of the local Ahmadiyya community. At this point the Khatme Nabuwwat supporters raised a hue and cry with the demand of putting up the signboard on the Ahmadiyya mosque at any cost. With no other way out, the District Commisioner imposed a ban on all religious slogans, meetings, rallies in the area for the next one month. To keep the situation under control, two new police camps have already been established.

Since Saturday the OC of Shyamnagar Thana has been entrusted with full-time responsibilities of the Sundarban High School Camp while the ASP of Kaliganj circle has been given that for the Harinagar Secondary School Camp. After the Khatme Nabuwwat attacks, looting and persecution from April 17 to 20, now the Peace Maintenance Committee is trying to return the looted items. Local leader of Islami Shasontantra Andolan Maulana Abu Bakr, Munshiganj union Jama’t Ameer Maulana Abdur Razzaq and cadre forces from Khatme Nabuwwat are still on guard in the villages Jatindranganne, Bhetkhali, Boro Bhetkhali, Chhoto Bhetkhali, Meergang, Munshiganj and Harinagar.

Meanwhile the US Ambassador in Dhaka Harry K Thomas, after visiting the Ahmadiyya headquarters while speaking to journalists said: There are some fundamentalists in Khulna. It is they who are carrying out the attacks and oppression of the Ahmadiyyas. I myself and you all are Ahmadiyyas. When they are hurt by the fundamentalists, I too am hurt. He also reported that he is going back to his country shortly and will brief the State Department of the communal activities of extremists in Bangladesh. Before this he had an hour-long closed-door meeting with Ahmadiyya leaders. Here he listened to incidents of attacks and persecution in Satkhira and other areas of the country. Expressing his compassion, the Ambassador said in Bangla: When the fundamentalists attacked the Ahmadiyyas, they attacked the whole humanity. It is not fair at all. I hope people from all walks of life will come forward to protect them. It may be added that after the latest attacks on the Ahmadiyyas, US Ambassador Thomas met with the Local Government Minister Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan and expressed his concern.

(Translation: ASBT)

Source: http://www.dailyjanakantha.com/240405