HC orders probe into attacks on Bauls, fakirs and Sufi followers

The High Court has ordered an investigation into the attacks on Bauls, fakirs, sannyasis and shrines across the country. The court has directed the Inspector General of Police (IGP), the Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner, and the Additional Inspector General of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to submit a report within 60 days.

In a full verdict published recently, the court also issued a rule asking why the state's failure to ensure the constitutional rights and security of Bauls, fakirs and sannyasis should not be declared illegal. The Home Secretary, Religious Affairs Secretary, Cultural Affairs Secretary, IGP and DMP Commissioner have been asked to respond to the rule within four weeks.

The order was passed by a High Court bench comprising Justice Razik-Al-Jalil and Justice Debashish Roy Chowdhury on June 21, following a preliminary hearing on a writ petition.

The writ petition stated that attacks on Bauls, fakirs and Sufi followers, vandalism of akhras and shrines, obstruction of religious practices and bans on performances have been occurring in various parts of the country. The forced cutting of hair and jatas of many Bauls and fakirs has also violated their religious beliefs, personal freedom and human dignity.

The petition further alleged that extremist groups have been carrying out these attacks in a planned manner. Law enforcement agencies have failed to take effective measures, leading to an increase in such incidents.

The petitioners also noted that hate campaigns against Baul and Sufi followers continue on social media, further fuelling religious and cultural violence.

The writ was filed on behalf of several concerned citizens, including Shirin Parvin Haque, founder of Naripokkho; Professor Anu Muhammad; Professor Amena Mohsin; Pir Hasan Shah Sureshwari Dipu Nuri of the Sureshwar Darbar Sharif; Professor Geeti Ara Nasrin; writer and researcher Altaf Parvez; and musician Farzana Wahid Sayan.

The petition claimed that these incidents and the authorities' failure to prevent them violate Articles 27, 31, 35(5), 36, 39(1) and 41 of the Bangladesh Constitution.