Attack on Nural Pagla’s Dargah: Case Filed After 68 Days

A case has been filed in court 68 days after the notorious attack on Nural Pagla’s dargah in Goyaland, Rajbari. On Thursday, November 13, Shirin Begum, the sister-in-law of the deceased Nural Pagla, filed the complaint in Goyaland Amli Court.

In the case, 96 individuals have been named as accused, and an additional 400-500 unknown individuals have also been included. According to the case’s lawyer, Mohammad Shariful Islam, the Senior Judicial Magistrate, Tamjid Hossain, has instructed the PBI (Police Bureau of Investigation) to conduct an investigation.

Previously, on September 8, the father of the murdered Rasel Mollah, Azad Mollah, a former member of the Devgram Union Parishad, had filed a case with the Goyaland Ghat police station, accusing attackers of the assault on the dargah and Rasel’s murder. In that case, 3,500 to 4,000 unknown people were named as accused, and so far, 12 people have been arrested.

Additionally, in a separate incident on September 6, another case was filed after an attack on police officers and the vandalism of vehicles. In that case, 3,350 people were named as unidentified, and the police arrested 16 individuals.

The incident began after a protest rally organized by the ‘Iman-Aqida Rakkha Committee’ and ‘Tawhid Jonnatar’ on September 5, following the Friday prayers at Shaheed Mohiuddin Ansar Club in Goyaland Bazaar. A group of unruly individuals launched a violent attack on Nural Pagla’s dargah from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm, resulting in continuous clashes, vandalism, and looting. The attackers accused Nural Pagla of conducting un-Islamic burials and dug up his body, which was then burned on the Padma River’s roadside at the intersection of the Dhaka-Khulna highway. At least 50 people, including 10-12 police officers, were injured during the attack, and two police vehicles along with the Upazila Executive Officer’s car were damaged.

Rasel Mollah, a resident of Jhutumistri Para in Devgram Union and son of Azad Mollah, lost his life in the violence.