National Citizen Party (NCP) has issued a strong condemnation following the killing of a spiritual leader during a mob attack, vandalism, and arson at a Mazar in Daulatpur, Kushtia, triggered by allegations of blasphemy.
Peer Shamim Reza Jahangir, head of the Mazar, was killed this afternoon when a group of unruly individuals attacked and set fire to the shrine.
The violence reportedly broke out after a video of the Peer allegedly making derogatory remarks regarding the Holy Quran began circulating on social media this morning, causing tension to spread throughout the area.
The NCP said courts are the appropriate legal authority for the investigation and trial of sensitive allegations such as blasphemy. The party stated that those involved in the arson and killing have committed serious criminal offences.
The NCP has called upon law enforcement agencies to immediately identify and take legal action against the instigators, planners, and participants of the attack.
The party further noted that such mob violence is generally not possible without the shelter of local political powers, drawing parallels to an incident in Rajbari last year where a shrine was vandalised and a body was burnt.
Criticism was also directed at law enforcement for failing to exercise expected caution or play an effective role despite having prior experience with similar incidents.
While Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has repeatedly vowed to end “mob culture,” the NCP claimed the government is failing to stop “actual mobs.”
The party highlighted that, following the national election, government-supported sides used mob actions to force the resignations of two individuals working at Bangladesh Bank and the Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS).
The NCP accused the government of indulging its own supporters’ mob actions while using the term “mob culture” as a tool for its activists to suppress political dissent.
The NCP alleged that the government is continuously violating its own election manifesto as the country’s law and order situation deteriorates.
The party urged the Home Minister to stop acting as a spokesperson for all government issues and instead focus on taking proper measures to normalise the law and order situation.
