Displacement of Muslims and Demolition of Mosques in Assam Deeply Concerning: Bangladesh Nezame Islam Party

Bangladesh Nezame Islam Party has expressed deep concern and protest over the displacement of a large number of Muslim families and the demolition of several mosques during recent eviction drives in India’s Assam state.

The party’s acting Ameer, Maulana Abdul Qayyum Subhani, and Secretary-General, Maulana Musa bin Izhar, made the remarks in a joint statement sent to the media on Tuesday (October 20).

According to the statement, published reports indicate that more than 1,000 families, most of them Bengali-speaking Muslims, have been displaced during recent eviction drives in Assam’s Nagaon, Hojai and Golaghat districts. Reports of several mosques being demolished during the operations are also deeply concerning, the leaders said.

They said it was unacceptable for administrative action to push ordinary people into a humanitarian crisis or undermine the dignity of religious places of worship. The leaders stressed that disputes over land or property should be resolved through transparent and fair legal procedures.

They also called for measures to ensure that no community faces discrimination because of its religious or linguistic identity. They said the religious sentiments and rights of affected communities must receive the highest consideration, particularly when mosques and other places of worship are involved.

They further said that protecting the security, dignity and civil rights of religious and ethnic minorities was essential for peace and stability in South Asia. Communal tensions in any neighbouring country could adversely affect harmony and stability across the region.

The acting Ameer and the Secretary-General urged Indian authorities to ensure proper legal protection and humanitarian rehabilitation for the affected families, protect the dignity of mosques and other religious sites, and conduct a transparent and impartial review of the allegations surrounding the eviction drives.

They said religious freedom and human dignity must be protected equally everywhere. The leaders expressed hope that Indian authorities would act responsibly and sensitively in the Assam case in the interests of justice, humanity and peaceful coexistence.