Violent Attack on Grave of Controversial Cleric Sparks Outrage in Bangladesh

Image: Jihad Watch

Bangladesh police confirmed on Saturday that a large-scale manhunt has been launched after a violent incident in central Bangladesh, where hundreds of hardline Islamists desecrated the grave of a controversial cleric, resulting in the death of one person and injuries to many others.

The shocking attack, which took place on Friday, stands out as a rare and extreme case in the country where a grave was forcibly dug up and a body desecrated. Eyewitnesses reported that the remains of cleric Nurul Haque Molla—popularly known as Nura Pagla or “Mad Nura”—were disinterred and later set ablaze by the mob.

Why the Hardliners Were Provoked

The hostility was reportedly triggered by the design of Molla’s gravestone, which bore a resemblance to the Kaaba in Mecca, considered the holiest site in Islam. This angered Sunni hardline groups, who accused Molla’s followers of blasphemy and deviation from orthodox Sunni practices.

Molla, who passed away in August, had been a highly controversial figure during his lifetime. He claimed to be the Imam Mahdi, a messianic figure in Islam, which drew widespread condemnation from the religious establishment. Following his death, he was buried at his shrine in Rajbari. However, according to local journalist Azaz Ahmed, his burial rites and the construction of his grave departed significantly from mainstream Sunni traditions.

Although Molla’s supporters had assured the public that modifications would be made to the grave to prevent offense, tensions escalated when a hardline group calling itself the Iman-Aqida Raksha Committee took matters into their own hands.

Mob Attack and Clashes

After Friday afternoon prayers, an estimated 2,000 people armed with crowbars, hammers, and sticks stormed the shrine. They destroyed the grave, desecrated the body, and clashed with Molla’s supporters who tried to resist the attack.

Hospital authorities later confirmed that one person was killed in the violence, while around 50 others sustained injuries, including three who remain in critical condition.

Concerns Over Rising Intolerance

Human rights activists and observers have condemned the incident as a dangerous escalation of religious intolerance in Bangladesh. Abu Ahmed Faijul Kabir, a rights activist, noted that the attack reflects a growing pattern of religious radicalism in society.

“We have seen repeated attempts to suppress cultural programmes, unnecessary outrage over the hiring of music teachers in schools, and increasing incidents of vandalism at Sufi shrines. This grave desecration is another alarming sign of the shrinking space for pluralism and tolerance,” Kabir remarked.

The police have vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice, but the attack has sparked nationwide concern over the rising influence of extremist groups and the erosion of Bangladesh’s historically syncretic religious traditions.

(This Article was originally published by Jihad Watch)