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Concerns are growing over activities carried out under the banner of “Tawhidi Janata”, as groups identifying themselves by the name have recently opposed cultural programmes and other public events in different parts of the country.
The latest controversy centres on a traditional boat race scheduled for 28 August on the River Sunai in Sylhet’s Beanibazar.
Local organisers say they have arranged the annual event as in previous years, but a group using the “Tawhidi Janata” banner has demanded that it be cancelled.
Aminul Islam, one of the organisers, told the Daily Sun that they were preparing to hold the competition as scheduled. Another organiser, Azizul Islam, said Kamrul Islam and Ziabul are leading the campaign against the event.
Sylhet Deputy Commissioner and District Magistrate Abdullah Al Mamun told the Daily Sun that he had learnt from the Beanibazar upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) that a group under the banner of “Tawhidi Janata” is opposing the boat race.
He said he had asked the UNO to meet the objectors and try to resolve the issue. The UNO has also said the traditional boat race should not be stopped because of objections from any group.
Rashim Molla, joint general secretary of the Bangladesh Rowing Federation, said the competition does not offend Islam and urged those opposing it to refrain from creating obstacles.
The dispute in Beanibazar comes amid a series of recent controversies involving cultural programmes and religious gatherings.
On 19 August, the Kishoreganj district administration cancelled a concert scheduled at the town’s Old Stadium after local religious leaders opposed the event. The Imam-Ulama Parishad had submitted a memorandum to the deputy commissioner seeking cancellation of the concert, while a group identifying itself as “Tawhidi Janata” had also announced a protest.
The administration, however, said the concert organiser also lacked the required registration and licence, which was cited as a reason for cancelling the event.
On 18 August, at least 30 people, including seven police personnel, were injured in a clash between police and students of Jamia Darul Arkam Al-Islamia Madrasah at the district police lines in Brahmanbaria over a concert organised by police. The madrasah was founded by Hefazat-e-Islam Secretary General Maulana Sajidur Rahman.
The madrasah students had objected to loud music being played at the concert, which led to the clash.
The “Tawhidi Janata” banner has also been associated with previous incidents involving shrines and religious gatherings.
On 11 April, a mob identifying itself as “Tawhidi Janata” attacked the darbar of Pir Abdur Rahman, also known as Shamim al-Jahangir, in Philipnagar of Daulatpur upazila, Kushtia, and killed the 52-year-old spiritual leader.
On 4 September 2025, a group operating under the banner of the “Iman-Aqeedah Rokkha Committee” attacked a darbar sharif in Goalanda upazila of Rajbari, exhumed the body of Nurul Haque, locally known as Nural Pagla, from his grave and set it on fire. The incident triggered a clash in which one person was killed and at least 22 others were injured.
According to a Bangladesh Police press release issued on 18 January, 2025, 44 attacks had been carried out on 40 shrines across the country since 4 August 2024.
The Global Sufi Organisation later said 80 shrines had been attacked between June and December of that year.
Speaking to the Daily Sun on Saturday, Hasan Shah Sureshwari Dipu Noori, an executive member of the Global Sufi Organisation, claimed that at least 200 attacks on shrines and other events had been carried out under the “Tawhidi Janata” banner since 5 August 2024. He alleged that police cases had been filed in only around 10% of the incidents. “Extremists under the banner of Tawhidi Janata are carrying out these activities,” he said, alleging that law enforcement agencies had made few arrests in connection with the incidents.
However, representatives of several Islamist political and religious organisations denied having any organisational connection with “Tawhidi Janata”.
Sheikh Fazlul Karim Maruf, assistant secretary of Islami Andolan Bangladesh, told the Daily Sun that pro-Islamic parties had no connection with the group.
“A section of people under this banner is trying to pursue the agenda of a vested quarter,” he said.
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Assistant Secretary General Advocate Ahsanul Mahboob Zubair said the government should investigate whether there was any conspiracy behind the activities carried out under the banner.
Moulana MA Karim Ibn Mosabbir, a former member of the Hefazat-e-Islam central committee, said Islam did not permit anyone to harm others. Dr Tania Haque, a professor at Dhaka University, said growing social instability is contributing to various forms of conflict and offences. Crime analyst Dr Tawohidul Haque, also a Dhaka University academic, said people have the right to conduct their activities as long as they do not violate the law or infringe on others’ rights.
“If someone dislikes another person’s expression, it can be discussed rather than turning to conflict,” he said.
He alleged that attacks carried out under the banner of “Tawhidi Janata” or other names had often ended in political settlements, allowing perpetrators to remain at large.