Sylhet
A human chain program and rally were held demanding the closure of the Urs at the shrine of Hazrat Karim Shah (RA). The rally was held on Friday afternoon after the human chain program was observed at Badaghat, the commercial center of Tahirpur, Sunamganj.
A rally was held after the human chain program organized by the Tahirpur Upazila branch of the Committee to Prevent Anti-Islamic Activities with the participation of scholars from all walks of life in the upazila.
Speakers at the rally said that under the banner of the so-called shrine committee, drug consumption, obscene dancing and singing, loud microphones and sound boxes, gambling halls and shops were being used in the name of celebrating the annual Urs at the Hazrat Karish Shah (RA) shrine in Noapara village of Uttar Barodal Union of the upazila.
The committee members have been vigorously campaigning by submitting a petition to the upazila administration in the name of observing Urs to justify these misdeeds and anti-Islamic activities. The speakers called for stopping all anti-Islamic activities including organizing Urs on Sunday before the law and order situation deteriorates. The rally was addressed by President Hafez Mao. Abul Bashar Nurullah, Mao. Mukhlesur Rahman, Mao. Hafez Yahia, Hafez Ehsan Ulamaye Keram, Towhidi Janata and others.
When asked about the matter, Abu Taher, the general secretary of the Uor Barodal Union Jubo Dal in the upazila, a former UP member and president of the shrine committee, a resident of Puranghat village, said, "When I applied, the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) and the OC of the police station gave permission to observe Orsh on Sunday." Abu Taher also said that they will observe Orsh on Sunday night.
When asked about the permission to perform the ritual, Tahirpur Police Station OC Mohammad Delwar Hossain said, "We only received the application with the police station seal, nothing more."
On Saturday, Tahirpur Upazila Executive Officer (UNO) Md. Abul Hashem said, "When the application for Orsha came, I had instructed the police station OC to investigate the law and order situation and take necessary measures, but I did not give any permission for the celebration of Orsha. Now that the Alom Ulama Society has expressed its opposition to the Orsha, I have again instructed the OC to take legal action to stop the Orsha."
