Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)-Sectarian violence on Shia minorities is an increasing phenomenon in Pakistan and a few other countries.
So far, Bangladesh has been immune to such atrocities, as Shias and Sunnis had been living in harmony for decades in the country, reports the Globalvoices.org.
But with extremism becoming a global phenomenon, Bangladesh is also facing some of the heat. In the early hours of Saturday, October 24, an unprecedented bomb attack on a large Shia gathering in the capital Dhaka's Hussaini Dalan killed one 14-year-old boy and injured nearly 60 other people.
Hussaini Dalan is the venue for religious gatherings of Shias held during the month of Muharram.
The first explosion was heard around 1:30am while the Shia community members were preparing for their traditional Taziah procession.
After five minutes two more bombs went off consecutively.
Two other unexploded devices were later found in the premises.
The police has announced a three-member probe committee to investigate the incident.
According to a ruling party spokesman and the police, this attack is a ploy to destabilise the country and tarnish its image.
Bangladeshis turned to social media to express their outrage.
Local Facebook user Shah Jalal Sagar wrote:
“I am shocked by the senseless attack on a Shia Ashura gathering outside Old Dhaka, and offer my deepest condolences to the victims and their families. Bangladesh has a long tradition of religious tolerance and communal harmony.”
According to US-based SITE Intelligence Group, the militant Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for the bombings on Hussaini Dalan.
User Noor Uddin pointed out that Islam does not support killing of innocent people:
Whoever doing this it's not acceptable to us. Killing any innocent people is a big sin in Islam, if anyone do this he will never go to ‘Jannah’ its clearly mentioned in ‘Holy Quran’.
Tahsina Arshad Ahmed was angry at the silence of the common people:
There is no hiding from the fact that extremism is on rise in Bangladesh. What surprises me is that I have hardly heard of this act of terrorism from anyone today, except one friend. So, raising your voice against injustice towards Shia Muslims is not worth your time?
Ali Riaz wrote at Kathakata blog:
This attack should be seen in the light of the current political situation and the tragic attacks of the past few months.
The factors at play are political uncertainty, instability and agitation, deteriorating law and order situation, control on freedom of speech, the misuse of power by the authorities, absence of a functioning political opposition, increasing of power of local extremist organisations and the recent killings of two foreigners.
Analysing all these I think that this attack is the announcement of a new front – sectarian violence – another avenue of religious extremism.
BBN/SK/AD