Tawhidi Janata demands ban on Urs in Savar

Tawhidi Janata has staged protests at the upazila administration and thana demanding a ban on the Urs Sharif scheduled to be held on 26-27 August at the house of Kazi Jaber Al-Jahangir, a follower of Sureswar Pir in Savar of Dhaka. Leaders of local political and religion-based organisations are leading these programmes under the banner of ‘Tawhidi Janata’. Raising the allegation that Islamophobic speeches are given at the Urs they have submitted memorandums to the upazila administration, Savar Thana and several other offices.

They submitted written complaints (memorandums) to the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Savar and Savar Model Thana on Sunday (August 23). Ten persons have signed the memorandum demanding a ban on the Urs, among whom are three from Hefazat-e-Islam, two from BNP, one from Jubodal, one from Bangladesh Khilafat Andolan, one from Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, one activist of Jamaat-e-Islami and one local Pir.

Allegations of ‘Tawhidi Janata’

Allegations have been raised against Jaber Al-Jahangir of giving controversial speeches including that there is no difference among Allah, Rasul and Pir as well as on namaz-roza, heaven-hell and Qiyamat. The complainants claimed that attempts are being made to mislead the Muslim society through these speeches. In the complaint petition demand has been made for banning the Urs to be held on 25-27 August and withdrawing the cases filed against Tawhidi Janata, alongside seeking intervention of the administration to avoid unwanted incidents.

Statement of Jaber Al-Jahangir

However, Kazi Jaber Al-Jahangir has denied these allegations. He informed that an attack took place on his house on September 30, 2024 in which many including family members were injured and vandalism and looting were carried out on the house and vehicles. He also informed that he had filed counter cases in response to the cases filed by several locals.

In his statement the propaganda being carried out against him on religious matters is false and he does not want to get involved in religious debate with anyone. He informed that he is ready to sit for discussion with evidence of Quran-Hadith in the presence of the administration if anyone has any objection. He further said that Urs has been held domestically at home for about 19 years on the occasion of his father’s death and this time also preparation has been taken to hold the programme within the boundary of the house without any pandal or microphone. Informing about the apprehension of attack on the house centring the Urs he has filed a general diary (GD) at the thana and informed the matter at various levels of the administration.

Statements of leaders of ‘Tawhidi Janata’

Maulana Yusuf Sadik Haqqani, Secretary General of Bangladesh Khilafat Andolan, said they have no personal enmity with Jaber Al-Jahangir, but their objection is that he is misleading people by giving wrong interpretation of Quran-Hadith in the name of Islam. He informed that decision has been taken after meetings over the past few days that request will be made to the government to intervene through law and stop these activities and to that end they have already gone to various offices of the government and submitted applications.

Maulana Ali Azam, Secretary General of Hefazat-e-Islam Dhaka district north branch, informed that they have learnt from the local musallis and ulema-olama that during the Urs sometimes anti-Quran-Hadith speeches like ‘Nabi is Allah, Allah is Nabi’ are given, about which they are speaking at the request of the locals.

Aminul Islam Amin, who identified himself as an activist of Jamaat-e-Islami, said the allegation of the local ulema-olama and common people is that Jaber Al-Jahangir gives anti-Islamic and objectionable speeches on Facebook and YouTube.

Maulana Ali Ashraf Tayyab, President of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Savar thana committee, said their main goal is not to ban the Urs but to stop the un-Islamic activities of Jaber Al-Jahangir.

Saidul Ibne Hasib Sohel, Senior Vice-President of Savar thana BNP, said their main goal is to maintain peace and order in the area. He informed that the dissatisfaction created over this difference of opinion—one side wants the Urs, another side does not—has been informed to the law enforcement agency. He also mentioned that as a local public representative and resident he does not want any kind of conflict.

Mohammad Manju Molla, former organisational secretary of Savar thana Jubodal (currently candidate for secretary), said they do not want to ban the Urs, rather they want to stop the Islamophobic speeches there and they have informed the matter to the law enforcement agency from the side of Tawhidi Janata for maintaining peace and order in the area.

Administration active

Md. Saiful Islam, Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Savar, said the complainants have been advised to stay calm and decision will be taken after discussion with the police administration.

Md. Saiful Alam, Officer-in-Charge of Savar Thana, informed that discussion is ongoing on the matter, senior officers have also been informed and police is in alert position to avoid any unwanted situation.

It may be mentioned that an attack took place on September 29, 2024 on the mazar of Shah Sufi Syed Maulana Kazi Afsar Uddin Al Jahangir Al Sureswari and the house of his son Sufi sadhak Kazi Jaber Ahmed in Chakulia area of Savar.