Protests and Condemnation Mount Over Controversial Shirk-Related Remarks by President, Top Officials

Condemnation and protest continue over the controversial shirki remarks that the President and other people in the highest constitutional posts made recently about the Durga Puja of the Sanatan community.

Leaders of various Islamic parties protested the remarks by the country’s top leaders on Durga Puja. They said no god or goddess came from heaven. Gods and goddesses are idols that people made. These speechless and weak idols have no power to do good or harm to anyone, and they own no kind of fortune or misfortune.

They said Allah sent the prophets to destroy idol worship, which is the opposite of oneness of God. According to the Holy Quran, all the gods and goddesses together cannot even make a fly. Another verse says that those who worship anything besides Allah, and the gods and goddesses themselves, will become fuel for hell. The leaders demanded that the President, and the ministers and MPs concerned, withdraw their remarks that clash with Islam.

Bangladesh Khelafat Andolon

Mr. Maulana Habibullah Miyaji, Amir of Bangladesh Khelafat Andolon, said in a statement that people in the highest constitutional posts of the state should speak with great care and responsibility. He said the President’s remark on Durga Puja fully clashes with the Tawhidi belief and the Quran. He said the President told a vile lie about the prophets and messengers. According to him, the President said that Goddess Durga appeared when injustice came down on the earth. He said the President also said that gods and goddesses removed injustice from the earth. Mr. Miyaji said “Naujubillah” after this.

Mr. Miyaji said Mr. Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said that Durga Puja is not only for Hindus, and that it is a festival for the rest of us too. He said “Naujubillah” again. He said that under Islamic rules, a religious puja festival of Hindus cannot be a festival of Muslims.

Mr. Miyaji said the Local Government Minister said that Durga Puja teaches truth and justice against injustice. He said “Naujubillah” again. He said Muslims believe that only Allah and His Messenger are true. He said no other creed or chant besides Islam can teach truth and justice.

He said the Law Minister joined the Shuvo Jatra of the Sanatan community. The minister said that one of the government’s key beliefs is “religion is for each person, festival is for all”. Mr. Miyaji said this is a wholly false statement. He said the Prime Minister, who is the country’s top leader, has said “religion is for each person, the state is for all”. He said his group agrees with the Prime Minister’s words.

Mr. Miyaji said Mr. Barkatullah made a wrong claim that Mr. Tarique Rahman is Prime Minister today because of the votes of Sanatan people, not the votes of Muslims. He said this false claim has hurt the hearts of the 92 percent Muslims of the country.

He said Mr. Amanullah Aman MP raised his hands and prayed to Allah at the opening of a Hindu idol immersion ghat in Keraniganj. He said Mr. Aman could have held the opening in another way. He said that by praying to Allah there, Mr. Aman approved shirk.

Mr. Miyaji said the Prime Minister gave a very decent, polished and reasonable statement. The Prime Minister said religion is for each person, the state is for all, safety is for all and civic rights are for all. Mr. Miyaji congratulated the Prime Minister on this. He said people of every faith have the right to follow their religious customs freely. He said it is the state’s duty to ensure civic safety and rights for all.

But Mr. Miyaji said the controversial remarks of some responsible people in the Prime Minister’s party, who carry Muslim names, have already created hatred among the public. He said they gave many kinds of shirki remarks to collect the votes of Sanatan people and to please them. He urged the Prime Minister to warn them. He said these remarks are badly harming the image of the party and the government. He warned that if such remarks come again, public anger will rise widely.

Replying to the President’s remark, the Amir of Khelafat said no god or goddess came from heaven. He said gods and goddesses are idols that people made. He said these speechless and weak idols have no power to do good or harm to anyone. He said they own no kind of fortune or misfortune.

He said Allah sent the prophets to destroy idol worship, which is the opposite of oneness of God. He said that according to the Holy Quran, all the gods and goddesses together cannot make even a fly. He said another verse says that those who worship anything besides Allah, and the gods and goddesses, will become fuel for hell.

He said the Arab land was sunk in the darkness of unrest even though it had crores of gods and goddesses. He said the Great Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (peace be upon him) removed all the idols. By doing so, he drove away the darkness of ignorance from Arabia and lit the light of Islam. He turned it into a city of peace and safety.

He said those who deny the work of the prophets and messengers and see gods and goddesses as powerful cannot have faith. He said the nation is shocked to hear such false words, which clash with the Quran and Sunnah, from the President of a country that is 92 percent Muslim like Bangladesh. He said the President must withdraw his remark at once and make his position on religion clear.

Jamiat Ulama e Islam Bangladesh

Jamiat Ulama e Islam Bangladesh has voiced deep concern and objection over one part of the President’s speech at a religious event of followers of the Sanatan faith. The group said the highest constitutional post holder must give top priority to religious sensitivity and constitutional responsibility in his words.

Mr. Shaykhul Hadith Maulana Ubaidullah Faruk, President of Jamiat Ulama e Islam Bangladesh, gave this reaction in a statement. He said that according to the Islamic creed, Almighty Allah alone is the Creator, Sustainer and Protector of the whole universe. He said presenting any god or goddess as the saviour or protector of the whole world does not fit with the basic Tawhidi belief of Islam. He said a person in the highest constitutional post of the state should not use words or remarks that can hurt the religious feelings of a large number of Muslim citizens.

He also called on the President to review and withdraw that part of his speech and to give a clear explanation. He also urged everyone concerned, including the person in the highest constitutional post, to be more careful and responsible when speaking on religiously sensitive matters in future.