Attack at Shah Ali Shrine: 3 suspects placed on 2-day demand

A court in Dhaka has granted a two-day remand for three suspects arrested in connection with an attack on the shrine of Hazrat Shah Ali Baghdadi during an annual religious gathering (or urs) in the Mirpur area of Dhaka.

The order was issued by Metropolitan Magistrate Arifur Rahman after a hearing on Sunday (May 17). The accused are identified as Md. Azam, Sheikh Md. Sajjadul Haque Russell, and Arman Dewan.

According to court and police sources, the investigating officer, Inspector Tarikur Rahman of Shah Ali Police Station, requested a three-day remand for interrogation. Defense lawyer Md. Kamal Uddin sought bail and argued that the accused were innocent and had been falsely implicated. After hearing both sides, the court rejected the bail petitions and approved a two-day remand for each suspect.

The incident took place at the shrine in Mirpur while devotees were participating in religious rituals and offering vows on the night of May 14.

According to the case statement, a group of around 100 to 150 unidentified people allegedly entered the shrine carrying sticks and chanting “Allahu Akbar.” The attackers reportedly launched a sudden assault on visitors and devotees at the shrine. Several people were injured in the violence.

The complaint was filed by a devotee named Reshmi Begum at Shah Ali Police Station on Saturday (May 16). Police later arrested the three suspects from the Uttar Bishil area that same night.

The First Information Report (FIR) also alleges that the attackers vandalized religious items at the shrine, including tearing red cloth tied around a sacred tree and breaking candle stands. The complainant claimed that these acts hurt religious sentiments.

Reshmi Begum further alleged that she was physically assaulted and sexually harassed when she tried to stop the attackers.

The attackers are also accused of damaging cooking equipment used for preparing food for devotees, causing losses estimated at around 30,000 Bangladeshi taka. The complaint additionally alleges that approximately 90,000 taka was looted from visitors and devotees, along with 6,000 taka in cash belonging to the complainant.

According to the case statement, the attackers eventually fled after devotees and visitors resisted the assault.