300-year-old Meherpur shrine demolished

A mob demolished an ancient shrine at Govipur village under Buripota union in Meherpur Sadar upazila and ousted the devotees from there yesterday. 

The shrine was established by Shah Sufi Hazrat Bagu Dewan Pir, who came from Iraq to preach Islam around 300 years ago and settled at Govipur village, according to Folk Culture of Bangladesh published by Bangla Academy.

The 2.36-acre land of the shrine is registered with the name of the shrine committee's secretary.  

When devotees were in a meeting for holding the annual Urs of the shrine scheduled for February 17, several hundred people of the village stormed there around 2:30pm yesterday, said Alamgir Hossain alias Pagla Alam, khadem (caretaker) of the shrine.

"The mob led by Shah Jamal, president of Buripota union unit of Awami League [AL], destroyed the tin-shed roof, and walls pillars of the shrine and cut off around 200 trees on its premises. They also forced out around 30 devotees from there," he said.

"We sought help from police who were staying at a short distance but to no effect," he added. 

Contacted, local AL leader Shah Jamal said, "On several occasions, locals requested us to take step as anti-social activities were running there. Now people have taken the step."  

Denying the allegation of anti-social activities, Alamgir said they observed religious ceremonies including an annual Urs there in the name of Bagu Dewan. 

"I am now staying away in fear of attack by the group," he said. 

Contacted, Mustafizur Rahman, assistant superintendent of police in Meherpur, admitted the incident of shrine demolition. 

"We have urged the devotees to file a case and we will take action. Additional police forces have been deployed at the spot," he said.