Monowar Babu, Ghoraghat, (Dinajpur) Representative:
Tension has been building over the 48th Urs ceremony of a shrine in Ghoraghat upazila of Dinajpur. The Urs ceremony is being held at the shrine of Hazrat Gausul Azam Rahim Shah Baba Bhandari Rowza Sharif in Birahimpur Guchchagram area of Singra union of the upazila. The 48th annual Urs is scheduled to be held here from March 2 to 4.
On Friday (February 21) afternoon, a group of local devotees announced to protest the Urs by holding a procession, alleging anti-social activities. Meanwhile, preparations for the three-day Urs celebrations are underway.
Local people and the Sirate Mustakim Parishad complained that bid'at and shirk are being committed in the name of Urs at the shrine. The people of the shrine use drums, tabla and musical instruments to sing, play and recite zikir every Monday and Thursday. In addition, on the 18th of Falgun every year, men and women get together to indulge in hypocrisy and consume drugs. There is no mosque for offering prayers in the shrine premises. They have done things that are contrary to the Quran and Islam by becoming Muslims. On the next 10th of Falgun (February 23), Muslims under the banner of Sirate Mustakim Parishad announced the significance of Ramadan, iftar and prayer mahfil on the field opposite the shrine on 17th, 18th, 19th of Falgun.
Under the chairmanship of Ulama Oikya Parishad President Maulana Kamruzzaman and under the supervision of Organizing Secretary Maulana Arshad Hossain, Singra UP Chairman No. 3 Sajjad Hossain, Ghoraghat Upazila BNP Senior Vice-President Mahbubur Rahman Chowdhury, Hafez Maulana Mozaffar Hossain, Hafez Sirajul Islam, Maulana Sultan Mahmud, Mufti Mohibullah, and Sirate Mustakim Parishad Vice-President Mominul Islam announced the protest against the Urs of Bhandari Shrine at the end of the procession.
On the spot, it was seen that a large archway is being built in front of the shrine. Some workers are working to hang awnings at several places in the shrine. Preparations for the Urs are in full swing.
At that time, some devotees said, 'I have been coming to this shrine for 47 years; but the situation like this has never happened before. Nothing wrong happens here. But one party is unnecessarily demanding a ban on the Urs.'
Shrine keeper Shahidul Islam Jinnah said that a written application has been made to the district and police administration on 17, 18, 19 Falgun for the celebration of Urs. There has been no obstacle to the celebration of Urs for so many years; but this time the local Hujurs are asking for it to be closed. They are threatening to demolish the shrine. The Hujurs are trying to stop the Urs by finding us innocent. Even then, they will hold the Urs at any cost.
Amid the tension, Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime and Ops) of the district, Md. Anwar Hossain, visited the shrine area at 5 pm on Friday. During this time, he spoke to the shrine's khadem and local devotees. He advised both sides to remain calm in the chaos.
Ghoraghat Police Station OC Nazmul Haque said that discussions are underway between the two parties to defuse the tension surrounding Urs. The police are on high alert with increased surveillance to avoid any kind of chaos.
