Political leaders, cultural activists and different social-political organisations on Tuesday held a rally in front of High Court Mazar in Dhaka protesting at attacks on shrines across Bangladesh.
The rally titled Ganapratirodh Jatra demanded security for devotees and shrines across the country.
It also urged the interim government to take legal action against those involved in attacking the shrines.
The rally placed a five-point demand to the home affairs ministry.
The demands are arrest of the attackers, repair of damaged shrines across the country, treatment of those injured by the attackers, stopping extra judicial punishment and hate campaign against women, and punishment for those responsible for recent attacks on shrines.
The five-point demand was read by singer Bithi Ghosh.
At the rally, columnist and writer Farhad Mazhar said, 鈥楢ttacks on shrines are clearly criminal offences. So the government should bring the attackers to book. There is no evidence that Islamic scholars have supported attack on shrines. The Bangladesh constitution also does not allow anyone to launch attacks on dissent.鈥�
He also said that all had to be aware of India and Israel鈥檚 recent activities in provoking sectarian violence in the country.
鈥榃e have to work to reduce the distance between 鈥渟ecular鈥� and 鈥淚slamic鈥� because our fighting is for changing the culture of the country,鈥� added Farhad.
Singer Arup Rahee mentioned that the spirit of the student-led mass uprising was to stop discrimination which overthrew the fascist rule. But we have to eliminate fascism from society.
鈥榃e have to face divisive politics with culture, philosophy and politics,鈥� said Arup Rahee.
Jobaer Al Chishti Nizami, a member of Bangladesh Tarikat Federation, said that devotees of shrines were concerned about their security.
鈥榃e urge the interim government to ensure security of dissidents and minority people,鈥� said Jobaer Al Chishti. 聽
The chief coordinator of the Ganosamhati Andolan, Zonayed Saki, said, 鈥楧ifferent orientations of Islam and its internal debate will continue but no one can attack any dissent in an inclusive Bangladesh which is achieved through a lot of fighting and sacrifice. We also demand security for the people of the country.鈥� 聽 聽
Noori Pagla, Seema Datta, Amal Akash and Salahuddin Shuvro also spoke at the event which was moderated by Mahtab Uddin Ahmed.