Bangladesh Prepares for a Warm Welcome for Dr Zakir Naik
In a strong and impassioned online address, Dr. Abraham Mathai, the founder-chairman of Mumbai-based Harmony Foundation, has called for the world to unite against the tide of extremism in Bangladesh. Dr. Mathai, a former vice-chairman of Maharashtra State Minorities Commission, expressed his concerns over the growing radicalization in the country, particularly the attacks on minority Hindus and the vandalism of historical landmarks.
Dr. Mathai recounted incidents of places of worship being vandalized and representatives of the minority community brutally targeted. He lamented that Bangladesh is being consumed by radical forces seeking to rewrite history with violence, intimidation, and destruction. The vandalism at the residence and memorial of Bangladesh's founding father, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, on February 5, 2023, was not just an act of political vengeance but an outright assault on the history and identity of Bangladesh, he stated.
Dr. Mathai emphasized that the world cannot turn a blind eye to the growing extremism in Bangladesh. He urged the international community to take a firm stand against this wave of fundamentalist aggression to prevent it from destabilizing the region. He also strongly condemned the revocation of the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Muhammad Yunus, accusing him of giving in to the whims of Islamic radical forces operating in Bangladesh.
The vandalism at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's residence and memorial, according to Dr. Mathai, is linked to a larger trend of increasing radicalization, suppression of dissent, and attacks on secular voices in Bangladesh. He warned that the targeting of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's legacy is an ominous warning of the forces of Islamic fundamentalism shaping a dark and intolerant future in Bangladesh.
Dr. Mathai also recalled the Holey Artisan Bakery attack in Dhaka in 2016, which was influenced by radical Islamist Dr Zakir Naik, who is an accused and wanted by the police. However, the article does not provide any information about the current whereabouts of Dr. Zakir Naik.
Dr. Mathai concluded his address by urging global institutions to take immediate and decisive action to prevent further destruction of historical landmarks and to safeguard the democratic and secular values upon which Bangladesh was founded. He made these comments during a live online address, also addressing Bangladesh's deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The article does not provide any information about the location where Dr. Mathai made his comments or the current status of the vandalized sites.
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