Urgent appeal to address the persecution of Ahmadis in Bangladesh

Ansar Ahmed Ullah
Contributing Editor, Shottobani

London: On 5 August, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and left the country. Anarchism spread all over the country. Police and other forces, except the Army, were withdrawn.

In the meantime, thousands attacked our Ahmadnagar Ahmadiyya mosque, Jamia, Jalsa Gah and about 70 houses of Ahmadis. They burnt the central store of the Jalsa Gah, broke the wall of Jamia and Mosque and set fire. Homes and properties of Ahmadis have been attacked and set on fire. Civil administration was inactive, as only the Army was on the field. The attacks took place on the 5 and 6 August. At least 20 members of Ahmad Tabashir Chowdhury, Public Relations and Media Secretary of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat Bangladesh, said, “Ahmadiyya Jamaat is not affiliated to any political party. Those who have been against us for a long time and have made various attacks.”

Ahmad Tabashir Chowdhury said, “We are in great fear in the current situation. I am afraid that there may be attacks in other places. For this, I request the administration to take immediate security measures.”

Miscreants have vandalised and burnt a mosque at Taraganj under Rangpur district. The Molla also attacked our mosque at Mathertek of Dhaka City.

In an appeal, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association of Britain said the Ahmadis, a minority religious group, have long been subjected to systemic discrimination, violence, and persecution. Recent reports indicate that these atrocities have escalated, leading to a significant humanitarian crisis that requires immediate international attention and intervention. They added they are deeply troubled by the increasing incidents of targeted violence, forced displacement, and denial of basic human rights against the Ahmadiyya community in Bangladesh. These acts of persecution not only violate fundamental human rights but also undermine the principles of religious freedom and tolerance that we hold dear in our society.