Ahmadiyya convention in Bangladesh cancelled
By IANSMonday, February 7, 2011
DHAKA - The permission for the 87th annual convention of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat in Gazipur near here has been cancelled and curfew imposed around the venue after protests from Sunni Muslim hardliners, a media report Monday said.
Gazipur district administration Sunday deployed armed police at the venue where over 8,000 followers of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat had gathered for the three-day annual convention.
Many of them broke down in tears hearing that they had to leave without taking part, The Daily Star newspaper said.
“Our democratic rights have been taken away due to threats from some madrasa people,” said Mir Mobasher Ali, a member of the convention organising committee.
“But we are respectful to the law, so we have accepted the government’s order,” he said.
Ahmadiyyas are a Muslim sect who have faced problems from the majority Sunni Muslims.
The Sunni clergy have repeatedly called for their activities being banned, terming them as non-Muslims.
Mizanur Rahman, a police official, said that “a group of disgruntled locals” presented a memorandum to the district administration demanding that the permission for the convention be revoked.
