A NUMBER of incidents of vandalism and violence have taken place since the fall of the Awami League regime and people and the government have jointly succeeded in addressing most of them. But, attacks on shrines of pirs, fakirs and saints have, however, posed a big question mark on the success of the interim government in keeping law and order. While attacks on shrines have continued for over two to three weeks, the authorities have almost completely failed to address the issue. The government, in a statement on September 14, condemned the attacks on Sufi shrines and instructed the law enforcement agencies to take measures to protect shrines and cultural sites. But, such condemnation and instruction are not only inadequate to prevent such attacks but also reflective of a sort of reluctance at properly addressing the issue. It is expected that the authorities know the groups and people who are against the culture that has grown centred on shrines. And, it should not, therefore, be difficult to take necessary measures to protect the shrines. The law enforcement agencies are, however, not heard of arresting anyone in connection with the incidents although many attackers had made announcements on social media well before they attacked the shrines.
There have been attacks on at least 40 shrines and dozens of devotees of pirs, fakirs and Sufi Islam, leaving many shrines vandalised and many devotees injured. Devotees of various shrines say that they did not receive help from law enforcers when they sought protection. The attacks on shrines are believed to have come from a number of Islamic groups, political and otherwise, that adhere to a puritan form of Islam that interprets and terms the shrine culture as un- and anti-Islamic. When it is natural that there are differences, often irreconcilable, between sects of Islam and some sects have objections to the shrine culture, it is dangerous that such differences lead to attacks on shrines, which have a special place and significance for thousands of people who have their own interpretations of religion, rituals and their meanings. Allegations are also there, with some evidence, that activists of the deposed Awami League are out to destabilise the country through such attacks as the incidents paint a negative image of the country by showing that religious harmony is under threat. The attacks on shrines ultimately serve political interests, not religious ones.
The government and law enforcement agencies should, therefore, provide security for all the shrines. It is also important for the government to investigate the incidents, identify the perpetrators and take action against them. The authorities should be stringent enough to deter any further attacks on the shrines. People should also remain alert to such attacks that portray the country in the wrong light.
