Concerns over fundamentalism, mob violence and religious and cultural persecution have prompted a social alliance to demand stronger measures to ensure justice and citizen security, alongside a series of nationwide programs, including a Dhaka-Mymensingh long march scheduled for November 20.
Sauharder Bangladesh announced 10 demands addressing these issues and outlined its planned programs to press for their implementation.
The alliance will submit memorandums through deputy commissioners in all 64 districts from November 3 to 5 and directly to the prime minister on November 5. Human chains, demonstrations, oath-taking and torch processions will be held on November 13 to press for the demands.
The demands and programs were announced at a press conference at the National Press Club on October 28. The event focused on preventing religious extremism by bringing together Sufi, Sunni, Sanatan, Buddhist, Christian, communist, Baul, Indigenous and culture-conscious people.
The alliance said it aims to establish a secular, democratic and humane Bangladesh. Its members include representatives of religious and ethnic communities, Baul-Fakir practitioners, artists, lawyers, intellectuals, judges, retired military officers, political and social organizations that uphold the spirit of the Liberation War, and other pro-democracy and secular citizens.
It said it would work peacefully and through lawful means to protect citizens' lives, freedom, beliefs, culture and dignity.
10 demands of Sauharder Bangladesh
- Justice for mob violence and compensation for victims
The alliance demanded impartial investigations and exemplary punishment for attacks carried out in the name of mobs against shrines, temples, akharas, khanqahs, darbars, cultural institutions such as Udichi and Chhayanaut, newspaper offices such as Prothom Alo and The Daily Star, political party offices, residential areas targeted because of residents' beliefs, and other lawful institutions and activities.
These include jatra, theatre, musical events, urs, puja, fairs, concerts and girls' sporting competitions.
It also demanded state compensation and rehabilitation for affected individuals, families, communities and institutions, along with equal security for all lawful religious, political, social and cultural institutions and practices.
- Justice for child abuse and sexual abuse in madrasas
The alliance demanded an immediate end to child abuse, forced sexual abuse and rape in madrasas. It called for strict measures, new legislation if necessary, and maximum punishment for those responsible for past incidents of sexual abuse in madrasas.
- No restrictions on religious and cultural practices in the name of security
The alliance demanded that the state not prohibit or restrict peaceful activities such as urs, fairs, puja, religious ceremonies, girls' sporting events, cultural programs and concerts on security grounds.
It said the state must address security threats rather than shut down events and must ensure an open, safe and nondiscriminatory environment for religious, cultural and artistic activities.
- Justice for killings and violence over religious beliefs
The alliance called for impartial investigations and exemplary punishment for killings and violence committed because of religious beliefs or disbelief. It cited the cases of Maulana Rais Uddin, who it said was targeted for being a Sufi; Dipu Chandra Das, for being Hindu; Fakir Shamim al-Jahangir, for being a Fakir; Wahiduzzaman Shamim, over alleged religious insult; and writers and literary figures killed in the name of blogger killings.
It also demanded an impartial investigation into the killings of Ganapati Chakraborty and his family in Rangpur, with the actual perpetrators brought to justice.
The alliance called for legal action and exemplary punishment over attacks allegedly carried out in the name of religious insult, including attacks against Hindus in Dowarabazar and Tahirpur in Sunamganj, Sufis in Homna in Comilla, and a Baul practitioner in Manikganj.
It also demanded justice for violence committed in the name of protecting religion against people whose bodies were subjected to violence after death, including Nural Pagla.
The alliance said demands to declare any community non-Muslim violated citizens' rights and public security. It called for such demands to be treated as militant and anti-state activities and for legal measures to be taken.
It further demanded that the state refrain from identifying citizens by their religion and protect their personal information.
- Removal of permission requirements for urs
The alliance demanded the abolition of burdensome permission requirements for organizing urs, saying devotees and followers should be able to hold the events without repeatedly seeking authorization.
- Protection of religious symbols and folk culture
The alliance demanded protection for the right to carry religious and spiritual symbols, including the hair and matted locks of Baul-Fakir practitioners.
It called for strict punishment for forcibly cutting hair or matted locks, attacking or insulting religious symbols, imposing social boycotts, intimidation and psychological persecution.
It also opposed attacks, assaults and social or psychological pressure against Baul, Fakir, Sufi and Hindu ascetic communities, as well as groups that worship folk deities or spiritual powers, in the name of religious purification.
The alliance said traditional Bangladeshi folk practices must not be targeted by labeling them kufr, shirk, bidah or Hindu practices.
It also demanded protection for local folk spiritual beliefs and practices associated with trees, rivers, hills, mounds, stones and other places. Such beliefs must not be dismissed as superstition to justify destroying related objects or obstructing practices, it said, calling for lawful and environmentally appropriate preservation measures.
- Security and freedom for women
The alliance demanded swift and exemplary justice for violence against women, including organized attacks, harassment in the name of mobs, rape, sexual violence, insults, harassment over clothing, attacks over ornaments such as nose rings or forehead decorations, obstruction of girls' sports and cultural activities, and child marriage.
It called for adult women's freedom to make decisions about their lives, bodies, clothing, beliefs, education, professions, movement, culture and sports to be protected.
It also demanded workplace security and paid maternity leave for women workers during pregnancy.
Before women workers are sent abroad, including to the Middle East, the alliance demanded state-level security agreements with destination countries, protection of labor rights and effective complaint mechanisms. It said no woman worker should be sent abroad without these safeguards.
- Protection of Sufi shrines and khanqahs
The alliance demanded the appointment of imams and muezzins from the Sufi community at traditional shrines across the country, including those of Shahjalal, Shah Paran, Shah Ali, Kalla Shahid, Shah Sultan Balkhi, Shah Sultan Qadruddin Rumi, Khan Jahan Ali and Bayezid Bostami.
It said people from the Qawmi, Wahhabi, Salafi and Ahl-e-Hadith traditions, as well as the Maududi school of thought, should not be appointed to these traditional Sufi institutions.
The alliance also demanded that shrine mutawallis belong to the Sufi order of the respective shrine's Sufi founder, head the shrine's board of trustees and be accountable only to the court. It called for amendments to the Waqf Act to revoke local administration's powers over shrines.
It further demanded the return of historic lakhiraj properties to shrines and khanqahs under laws issued by the Sultans and Nawabs of Bengal, arguing that those laws should take precedence over British laws in this matter.
- Abolition of vested or enemy property laws
The alliance demanded the abolition of vested or enemy property laws and the return of land to Hindu citizens living in Bangladesh or abroad in accordance with Cadastral Survey (CS) records.
It called for ownership and inheritance decisions to consider relevant historical documents, records and court rulings alongside CS records. It also demanded special measures against illegal occupation, forged deeds, administrative irregularities and land grabbing.
Release of Sanatani rights movement activists
The alliance demanded an impartial and fair review of cases involving people arrested or imprisoned for campaigning to protect the existence, security and constitutional rights of the Sanatani community, including Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari.
It called for the prompt release, in accordance with the law, of those facing cases solely for peaceful and lawful expression or activism where there is no credible evidence of a crime.
