A group of people under the banner of “Tawhidi Janata” vandalised the mazar of Nurul Haque, well-known as Nuru Pagla, and torched his body after its exhumation from the grave at Goalanda in Rajbari on Friday.
The desecration of Nuru Pagla’s mazar led to sporadic clashes with his devotees in the afternoon, which left over one hundred people injured on both sides.
Witnesses said the body of Nuru Pagla, who died on August 23 due to various ailments, was exhumed from the grave and torched by “Tawhidi Janata.”
When police rushed to the spot to control the situation, they were attacked, and their vehicles were damaged.
Police said Nuru Pagla, established the shrine at his home in Goaland many years ago. He gained attention in the late 1980s after claiming to be the Imam Mahdi, sparking public outrage.
In March 1993, he left the area after signing an agreement to avoid further conflict, only to return shortly afterward and resume the activities at his shrine.
Nuru Pagla passed away at a private hospital in Dhaka. His body was buried in a tomb about 12 feet above ground, designed to resemble Kaaba Sharif. This sparked tensions among local people.
Locals held discussions with senior administrative officers, including the deputy commissioner and the superintendent of police, to address the issue.
“Tawhidi Janata” group threatened to demolish the tomb if it was not lowered, leading to a protest rally in Goalanda Ansar Club ground after Friday prayers. The protesters then attacked Nuru Pagla’s mazar.
Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Rakibul Islam confirmed that six police officers were injured in the attack. However, he declined to provide further details.