Ahmadiya mosque bombed, set afire: Two injured

BRAHMANBARIA, June 24: At least 20 bombs were exploded at the town’s Kadiani-inhabited Bhadughar and Kandipara where an Ahmadiyya mosque was set afire leaving two people injured on Thursday night, reports UNB.

Fire fighters rushed to the scene and doused the fire at the worship place of the Ahmadiyya community at Kandipara, police said.

They said Ayesha Begum and Bashir Ahmed were wounded being hit by bomb splinters.

Three unexploded bombs were recovered from Kandipara and Bhadughar. Police said these were cocktails.

People responsible for the violent attack could neither be identified nor arrested by police. Members of the Ahmadiyya community, also known as Kadiani, suspected that anti-Ahmadiyya groups were responsible for the bomb attack and arson.

Police Super ATM Tareq and other police officers visited the troubled spot where police forcers were deployed to maintain law and order.

The Ahmadiyyas have been allegedly targeted by some fundamentalist Islamic groups who believe that they should be declared as non-Muslims.

Earlier this month, New York based Human Rights Watch released a report accusing the Khatme Nabuwat umbrella group of Sunni Muslim extremists and its allies of attacking Ahmadiya mosques. It said the extremists had also beaten and killed some Ahmadiyas.

In January 2004 the government banned Ahmadiya publications, saying the measure was necessary to avoid hurting the sentiments of the majority Sunni Muslim population. The ban has since been suspended by the High Court.

Source: http://www.newstoday-bd.com/frontpage.asp?newsdate=6/25/2005#4731