Staff Reporter :
The Islamic scholars at a grand conference in the capital on Tuesday raised a nine-point demand, including introducing compulsory religious education in general syllabus, officially declaring the Qadianis as non-Muslims in Bangladesh, ensuring justice to the victims of the 2013 Shapla Chattar killings and withdrawal of all false cases against Aleem and Ulemas (Islamic scholars).
The event organised by Ulema and Mashaikh at Suhrawardy Udyan witnessed a massive participation of prominent Islamic scholars, leaders and devout Muslims.
Addressing the occasion, leading Ulemas and Mashaikhs called for the protection of Qawmi Madrasha, Tabligh Jamaat, and Islam in Bangladesh.
Thousands of Aleems and ulemas from across Bangladesh gathered at the venue chanting slogans in favour their nine-point demand to the government.
Their demands are:
1. Putting the Qawmi education under Darul Ulum, Deuband and stopping all plots against Tabligh Jamaat.
2. Making religious education compulsory in general syllabus.
3. Withdrawal of all false cases against Aleem and Ulemas (Islamic scholars).
4. Ensuring justice to the 2013 Shapla Chattar killings, withdrawing all false cases against Aleems.
5. Justice for the 2018 attack on innocent students by Saad Kandhalvi’s supporters at the Tongi Ijtema venue.
6. Stopping self-declared Tabligh Amir Saad’s entry into Bangladesh.
7. Ensuring Islamic scholars Biswa Ijtema in the two phases at Tongi denying Saad group’s participation in the event.
8. Imposing restriction on the entry of Saad’s supporters into the Kakrail Mosque.
9. Officially declaring the Qadianis as non-Muslims in Bangladesh.
From early morning, thousands of people including scholars began gathering at Suhrawardy Udyan for the conference, which officially started at 9:00 am and continued until 1:17 pm, filling the meeting venue to the brim.
Prominent attendees included Khalil Ahmad Qasemi of Hathazari, Allama Abdul Hamid Pir Saheb of Madhupur, Allama Abdul Rahman Hafezzi, Allama Nurul Islam, Adib Saheb Huzur, Maulana Obaidullah Farooq, Maulana Rashidur Rahman, Allama Sheikh Ziauddin, Allama Sheikh Sajidur Rahman, Allama Abdul Quddus of Faridabad, Allama Nurul Islam Olipuri, Maulana Mahfuzul Haque, Maulana Abu Taher Nadvi, Maulana Arshad Rahmani, Maulana Salahuddin Nanupuri, Maulana Mushtaq Ahmad, Principal Mizanur Rahman Chowdhury, Maulana Anwarul Karim, and Maulana Mufti Mohammad Ali.
The Islamic conference concluded with a prayer led by Shah Muhammad Muhibullah Babunagari around 1:30pm.
Bangladesh Nejam-e-Islam leader Azizul Haque claimed that the Saad faction was plotting a ‘conspiracy’ centering the upcoming Bishwa Ijtema.
He said, “Saad and his self-proclaimed followers are planning to create disorder during the Bishwa Ijtema.”
Maulana Abdul Hamid said, “The government is considering consulting with both the sides about the Bishwa Ijtema.
The government must implement the decision made here today. Any other approach could lead to serious consequences.”
Junaid Al Habib, joint secretary of Hifazat-e-Islam Bangladesh, said, “We have installed this government after 15 years of struggle against the fascist forces. If anyone dares to threaten us, we will confront them.”
As scholars from Qawmi Madrashas from across the country joined the conference in their thousands with buses and trucks, a severe traffic congestion was created in and around Suhrawardy Udyan .
Police put up barricades at Shahbagh and closed certain roads to manage the crowd.
