Khulna has literally been sitting on a heap of gunpowder until yesterday evening with thousands of frenzied Islamist bigots threatening to pierce through a massive police cordon and destroy Nirala Ahmadiyya mosque complex. Supporters of International Khatme Nabuwat Movement Bangladesh (IKNMB) were standing face to face with security forces cordoning off the area. The situation turned most volatile after Shaikhul Hadith Allama Moulana Azizul Huq, chairman of ruling alliance partner Islami Oikyo Jote (IOJ), issued an ultimatum that any more delay in declaring Ahmadiyyas non-Muslims would simply invite fall of the coalition government. Speaking as the chief guest at a rally of over 30,000 people, Huq said, "The faithful Muslims will crush all Ahmadiyya complexes in the country if adherents of Ahmadiyya Jamaat are not officially declared non-Muslims."
Anti-crime Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) and 10 platoons of riot police were deployed in the area from Moilapota crossroads to Nirala Residential Area to thwart the fanatics' attack. Security measures were also beefed up at KDA Avenue and Babri Square where the local chapter of IKNMB organised the rally after the Juma prayers with IKNMB Ameer Moulana Abu Saleh in the chair. Speakers at the really said Ahmadiyyas had been declared non-Muslims in at least 42 countries and demanded of the government to amend the constitution and follow suit or face dire consequences. After the meeting, the Islamist zealots coming from the city and the neighbouring districts started marching towards the Ahmadiyya complex, but were intercepted by security forces at Moilapota crossroads in Sonadanga. Movement of all modes of vehicles including bicycles was prohibited at the crossroads as well as on Sher-e-Bangla Road, Gallamari Road and all lanes and bylanes in Nirala, cutting off road communication between Khulna and Satkhira districts. The mob dispersed at 8:20pm reportedly after the IKNMB leaders had arrived at some sort of understanding with the law enforcing agencies and local administration, the contents of which could not be known immediately. |