A shocking incident of religiously charged violence unfolded in Bangladesh’s Rajbari district on September 5, when a mob exhumed and burnt the body of Sufi pir Nurul Huque, also known as Nurul Pagla. The gruesome act took place in Goalanda, about 140 km west of Dhaka, and has sparked outrage across the country.

Sources in Bangladesh’s National Security Intelligence (NSI) revealed that the violence was orchestrated by local leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) and the BNP. The key instigator was identified as Maulana Jalal, secretary of the Goalanda Imam Committee and JeI’s local general secretary. He was allegedly supported by BNP leaders Abul Qashem and Ayub Ali Khan.

The provocation stemmed from the design of Huque’s grave. Built at a higher level than other graves in the locality and painted to resemble the Ka’aba, Islam’s holiest shrine, the structure was seen by some as an affront to local Muslims. Under pressure, Huque’s family eventually lowered the grave to ground level, but anger had already been mobilized.

Secret meeting to incite violence

According to police sources, 10 to 15 days before the incident, Jalal, Qashem and Khan convened a meeting of the Imam Akita Rakkhya Committee. It was resolved that if the grave was not altered by September 4, it would be destroyed.

On September 5, an enraged mob—comprising mostly tawhidi janata (monotheistic people)—stormed the grave. Huque’s body was exhumed, doused in kerosene and petrol, and set ablaze. Hundreds of people reportedly gathered in a circle, cheering as the body was burnt in full public view, a scene that shocked much of Bangladesh.

Lack of action against leaders

The Goalanda police registered a criminal case against 3,500 “unknown persons” who took part in the mob violence. However, no arrests have yet been made against Jalal, Qashem, or Khan, despite their alleged role in the conspiracy.

Burning of a body is considered un-Islamic, amounting to mutilation and dishonour of the deceased. Police sources described Huque as a man of secular and humanistic values, in line with the traditions of Sufi pirs.

Local municipal sources have expressed concern that the khanka sharif, the Sufi shrine linked to Huque, could be the next target of mob violence if authorities fail to act.

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