A fresh dispute has emerged in Savar over an upcoming urs ceremony at the residence of Kazi Jaber Al Jahangir, a follower of Sureshwar Pir, with a group calling itself ‘Tawhidi Janata’ demanding that the event be stopped.

The group submitted written memoranda to the Savar Upazila administration and Savar Model Police Station on Sunday, 23 August, alleging that controversial and allegedly anti-Islamic remarks are made during the ceremony. The proposed urs is scheduled to be held on 26 and 27 August, although the memorandum reportedly refers to the period from 25 to 27 August.

The campaign has brought together local figures associated with several political and religious organisations. Ten people signed the memorandum on behalf of ‘Tawhidi Janata’. They include three Hefazat-e-Islam leaders, two Bangladesh Nationalist Party leaders, a Youth Dal leader, a Bangladesh Khilafat Andolan leader, a Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam leader, a Jamaat-e-Islami activist and a local religious leader.

Those named among the signatories are Chakulia Pir Maulana Tayebur Rahman Khan; Bangladesh Khilafat Andolan secretary-general Maulana Yusuf Sadiq Haqqani; Hefazat-e-Islam Dhaka District North unit ameer Maulana Ali Akbar Qasemi, secretary-general Maulana Ali Azam and organising secretary Maulana Aminul Islam Qasemi; Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Savar unit president Maulana Ali Ashraf Tayeb; Savar BNP organisational secretary Abdullah Mohammad Abul Khair Bepari and senior vice-president Saidul Ibne Hasib Sohel; Jamaat activist Aminul Islam Amin; and former Savar Youth Dal organisational secretary Mohammad Manju Molla.

Allegations over religious statements

In their memorandum, the petitioners accused Jaber Al Jahangir of making controversial remarks concerning Allah, the Prophet and pirs. They also alleged that he has made disputed comments about prayer, fasting, paradise, hell and the Day of Judgement.

The group claims that such remarks could mislead members of the Muslim community and create confusion over religious beliefs. It has therefore called for the proposed urs to be stopped and demanded the withdrawal of cases filed against people associated with ‘Tawhidi Janata’.

The signatories also appealed to the authorities to intervene to prevent any untoward incident, particularly given the confrontation that occurred at the same property last year.

Jaber rejects allegations

Kazi Jaber Al Jahangir has denied the allegations against him. He said his family home was attacked on 30 September 2024, leaving family members and others injured and causing damage and alleged looting of property and vehicles. He said several local people had filed cases over the incident before his side subsequently filed a counter-case.

Jaber described the allegations about his religious views as false and said he had no interest in engaging in a religious dispute. If anyone has objections to his views, he said he is willing to sit for a discussion in the presence of the administration and present evidence from the Quran and Hadith.

He said an urs had been held privately at the family home for around 19 years following the death of his father. Preparations for this year’s event, he said, were being made entirely within the boundary of the residence. There would be no external stage or loudspeaker.

Jaber also said he feared that his home could come under attack because of the dispute. He said he had filed a general diary with the police and informed different levels of the administration about the matter.

Supporters explain their demands

Bangladesh Khilafat Andolan secretary-general Maulana Yusuf Sadiq Haqqani said there was no personal enmity between the campaigners and Jaber. He alleged, however, that Jaber was misinterpreting Islamic teachings and confusing people through what the group considers incorrect interpretations of the Quran and Hadith.

Hefazat-e-Islam Dhaka District North secretary-general Maulana Ali Azam said the issue had previously been raised with his organisation by local worshippers and religious scholars. He alleged that controversial remarks had sometimes been made during the urs and said local residents had asked religious leaders to take a position on the matter.

Jamaat activist Aminul Islam Amin said local religious scholars and residents were monitoring the situation and alleged that Jaber had made objectionable remarks about Islam on social media platforms.

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Savar unit president Maulana Ali Ashraf Tayeb said stopping the urs itself was not their primary objective. Rather, he said, they wanted what they described as Jaber’s un-Islamic activities to stop.

Savar BNP senior vice-president Saidul Ibne Hasib Sohel said maintaining peace and public order was the main concern. He acknowledged that opposing views had emerged over the ceremony, with one side supporting the event and another seeking its cancellation. He said the authorities had been informed about the growing tension.

Mohammad Manju Molla, a former Savar Youth Dal organisational secretary and current secretary candidate, similarly said the campaigners did not want to prevent the urs merely because it was an urs. Their objection, he said, concerned alleged anti-Islamic remarks associated with the event.

Authorities monitoring the situation

Savar Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mohammad Saiful Islam said those who submitted the complaint had been advised to remain calm. The matter would be discussed with the police administration before a decision was taken, he said.

Savar Model Police Station officer-in-charge Mohammad Saiful Alam said senior officials had been informed and that the police were monitoring the situation closely. He said steps would be taken to prevent any untoward incident.

The authorities are now dealing with competing claims while attempting to prevent the latest disagreement from escalating into confrontation. The issue has particular sensitivity because the same family residence and shrine-linked property were the scene of violence in September last year.

Previous attack remains part of the dispute

On 29 September 2024, an attack took place in Chakulia at the shrine of Shah Sufi Syed Maulana Kazi Afsar Uddin Al Jahangir Al Sureshwari and at the residence of his son, Kazi Jaber.

According to a case filed at Savar Model Police Station on 4 October by Jaber’s brother Kazi Golam Rasul, around 500 people, allegedly acting in the name of ‘Tawhidi Janata’, attacked the property at about 10.30pm. The case statement alleged that the attackers were carrying locally made weapons, including sticks, machetes, axes and iron pipes.

The attackers allegedly threw bricks and stones at the residence, damaging furniture, window panes and other property. Two motorcycles were reportedly set on fire, while goods worth around Tk20 lakh were alleged to have been looted.

The case further alleged that the attackers attempted to damage the shrine located on the property. Army personnel and police from Savar Model Police Station arrived at around midnight and brought the situation under control. Between 20 and 25 people were reportedly injured.

The previous incident remains a key factor in the current dispute. With the proposed urs only days away, both sides have expressed concerns of different kinds, while the administration and police have said they are taking the necessary steps to prevent a recurrence of violence and maintain public order.