On the night of March 16, 2025, a brutal attack took place at the Ismail Shah shrine in Amtali, Barguna, during the annual Urs celebration, leaving at least 20 people injured. Eyewitnesses report that local leaders of the Islamic Movement of Bangladesh led a group of over a hundred individuals who demanded the cessation of shrine worship and musical performances. When their demands were refused, violence erupted. The attackers set fire to the shrine’s tents and meeting halls, looted donation boxes, and viciously assaulted Sufi followers. This is not an isolated incident but part of an ongoing pattern of religious violence across the country.
Bangladesh has a long-standing tradition of religious tolerance, where Sufism and shrine culture have been deeply respected. However, after the fall of the Awami League government on August 5, 2024, and the formation of the interim government under Nobel Peace Laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus on August 8, religious extremist groups have become increasingly emboldened. Over the past six months, more than 100 shrines across the country have been attacked, burned, looted, and vandalized. The primary objective of these atrocities has been to suppress followers of the Sufi tradition, eradicate their religious practices, and pave the way for a radicalized governance structure.
On October 15, 2024, during the annual Urs at Sylhet’s Shah Paran shrine, extremists stormed the premises, attacking devotees with machetes and severely injuring several individuals. They destroyed significant parts of the shrine. Similarly, on November 28, 2024, a group of radicals carried out a coordinated assault on Chattogram’s Bayezid shrine, setting its main gate ablaze, looting donation boxes, and vandalizing nearby shops.
On the night of January 12, 2025, an unprovoked attack on Rajshahi’s Chandra Prabha shrine left at least ten people critically injured. Several tombs and memorial structures were also desecrated. A similar incident occurred at the Dargah shrine in Cumilla on February 20, 2025. Although some of the perpetrators were arrested, many were later released on bail, allowing them to reorganize and continue their activities.
The government’s inaction and failure to address these atrocities have only encouraged further violence. Followers of the Sufi tradition are now living in fear, yet the government remains silent. The interim government, led by Nobel Laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus, has displayed an alarming level of incompetence. Law enforcement agencies, despite arriving at attack sites, have failed to take decisive action against the culprits. In many cases, victims attempting to file police reports have been turned away, and even when attackers have been identified, authorities have refrained from making arrests. This silence from the government suggests a tacit endorsement of extremist violence.
The Bangladeshi constitution guarantees equal rights to all religious communities and upholds the right to religious freedom. However, in practice, these fundamental rights are being systematically violated. Government inaction, political opportunism, and the protection of religious extremists have plunged the country into a crisis.
Immediate action is required to curb this wave of violence.
First, the perpetrators must be identified, arrested, and given exemplary punishments. The government must establish an independent investigation committee to uncover the true masterminds behind these attacks. Those who support or facilitate these crimes should also be brought to justice.
Second, security measures at shrines and other religious sites must be strengthened. Police presence should be increased, CCTV cameras installed, and trained security personnel deployed. Coordinated efforts between local authorities and religious leaders are essential to maintaining religious harmony.
Third, institutions that promote extremist ideologies under the guise of religious education must be identified and shut down. Public awareness campaigns should be launched to promote free thinking and peaceful religious coexistence. Educational reform is crucial in countering extremism and preventing future radicalization.
If the government fails to take swift and decisive action, Bangladesh will descend into an even deeper crisis. The rise of religious violence, the unchecked power of extremist groups, and the failure of the administration pose an existential threat to national stability. There is no time for silence—the government must prove that it does not condone fundamentalist violence. Otherwise, the nation must brace itself for an even more catastrophic future.
Author: Bangladeshi Human Rights Lawyer, Laureate of the French Government’s Marianne Initiative for Human Rights Defenders 2023, and Foundder President of Justicemakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF), Website: https://www.jmbf.org, Email: shahanur.islam@jmbf.org
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JMBF is an independent non-profit, nonpartisan human rights organization registered in France with registration number W931027714 under the association law of 1901, dedicated to defending human rights, fighting for justice, and empowering communities in Bangladesh and beyond.
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