A group of miscreants attacked an Islamic speaker and cut off his tongue in Akhaura of Brahmanbaria Saturday night.
The victim is Maulana Shariful Islam Bhuiyan, 36, lecturer in the Arabic department of Sreepur Islamia Fazil Madrasa in Bijoynagar upazila.
According to sources, Shariful participated in the mahfil in Daulatbari area of Bijoynagar Saturday night. He gave a speech criticizing the Shia Muslims in the mahfil. On the way home on a motorcycle, some unknown youths stopped his motorcycle and attacked him in Azampur railway station area of Akhaura upazila.
At this time, Shariful's tongue and lips were cut off. Apart from that, he was also beaten with a stick. At that time, a person named Obaidullah, 34, who was with Shariful on the motorcycle was injured.
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Assistant Professor (Arabic) of Sreepur Islamia Fazil Madrasa, Bijoynagar upazila, said: “The attackers ran away after Shariful started screaming. Later, he was rescued and first taken to Brahmanbaria General Hospital. Later, he was sent to Dhaka for advanced treatment.”
He also said that the teachers and students of Sreepur Islamia Madrasa formed a human chain before Zuhr prayer on Sunday in protest of this incident.
Akhaura police station officer-in-charge (OC) Asadul Islam told reporters that he learnt about the incident. However, no written complaint has been filed in this regard yet.
“Shariful Islam is undergoing treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Family members have contacted us and we will receive complaint in this regard,” he added.