Govt is not listening to our protest: Farhad Mazhar

Noted writer, poet and philosopher Farhad Mazhar has said it is unfortunate that the government is not paying attention to their protest, despite a long struggle against the demolition of shrines. “This cannot continue,” he said in a Facebook post on Monday.

He said the ‘Sadhuguru Bhakta O Oli-Awliya Ashekan Parishad’ has called for a protest rally this morning in front of the National Press Club in Dhaka, demanding the release of renowned folk bard and baul Maharaj Abul Sarkar and condemning the brutal attack on devotees in Manikganj. “Come. Register your protest,” he wrote.

He said the protest and rally were for all who, according to the directives of the Holy Qur’an, believe in the unseen; who have freed themselves from worldly greed, malice and the desire to harm others; who consider intellect, knowledge, wisdom and the divine revelation brought by the Prophet of Allah as the only guidance for mortal life, and who submit wholeheartedly as servants of Allah.

Expressing hope that everyone will attend the protest and the memorandum submission to the government, Farhad Mazhar said the rally was also for those who through conscience, intellect and social responsibility work to move society forward; irrespective of religion, belief or whether one is theist or atheist.

He said the gathering would decide their future duties and programmes. “We have been fighting for a long time against the destruction of shrines, working to ensure social harmony in Bangladesh through devotion, love and mutual respect, resolving disputes through discussion. But it is unfortunate that the government is not listening to our protest. This cannot go on.”

He wrote that Maharaj Abul Sarkar, after the July mass uprising, became one of the leading figures in turning shrines into public spaces. He always stood by them at every gathering. “When he was arrested, we requested law enforcement agencies not to file a case against him. If any word he used or anything he said caused anyone distress, we apologised on his behalf. But filing a case against him was not the right decision.”

He further wrote that the way bauls were beaten in Manikganj, and the way some of them were forced to jump into a pond to save their lives, has severely damaged the international image of the caretaker government. He said using law and repression instead of dialogue to address social conflict was responsible for this situation. Conflict or law alone cannot be the only means of resolving social disputes.