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Police, local admn foil bid to expel Ahmadiyyas
Our Correspondent, Barisal

Police and local administration have foiled an extremist bid to evict some 200 Kadiani families from Amtali upazila in Barguna.

Sources said the Amtali chapter of an extremist outfit called “International Majlish-e-Tahaffuj-e-Khatm-e Nabuwat” called for expulsion of Kadianis from the Amtali area unless they were officially declared non-Muslims by March 18.

Some 1000 local Kadianis, popularly known as Ahmadiyyas, were thrown into a state of panic after extremist leaders made the calls for their expulsion at religious gatherings on March 14 and 15.

The matter was brought to the notice of the upazila nirbahi officer of Amtali and the inspector general of police in Dhaka, asking them to ensure safety and security of the Ahmadiyya sect.

Yesterday morning, a huge anti-Kadiani mob assembled at the Kukuahat High School ground for the scheduled rally. Presided over by Maulana Moslem Ali, the rally was addressed by a group of firebrand speakers trying to incite the crowd to violence, sources said.

But since early morning police reinforcements were brought into the area to stop the situation from escalating. As the meeting progressed, a huge contingent of police cordoned off the area to prevent the mob from attacking Kadiani targets. Police also patrolled Ahmadiyya villages of Kukua, Krishnanagar and Khandan under Amtali Police Station before and after Jum’a prayers yesterday to head off any trouble.

About 1000 members of some 200 Kadiani families live in the three villages and worship in three Ahmadiyya mosques.

A tense situation is prevailing in the area but no untoward incident was reported thanks to a strong police presence.

Source: http://www.thedailystar.net/2004/03/20/d40320011818.htm