Jamaat-Affiliated Muezzins Barred from Giving Azan and Imams from Leading Prayers in Atgharia: Habib

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Pabna Correspondent: Habibur Rahman Habib, advisor to the BNP Chairperson and convener of Pabna District BNP, has issued a stern warning that no muezzin affiliated with Jamaat-e-Islami will be allowed to call the azan (Islamic call to prayer), and no Jamaat-affiliated imam will be allowed to lead prayers in mosques across Atgharia, Pabna.

A video containing his remarks went viral on social media on Saturday night (May 17). Earlier that day, Habib made the comments while visiting injured BNP-Jamaat activists at Pabna General Hospital, who were reportedly hurt during a recent clash in Atgharia.

In the video, Habib says,

“The party will decide whatever it wants—that’s not up for debate. But today, I’m saying clearly: No Jamaat-affiliated muezzin will be allowed to give azan in any mosque in Atgharia, and no Jamaat imam will be allowed to lead prayers. Just this past Friday, people couldn’t pray at the Debottor Bazar Jame Mosque because it was locked and the Jamaat affiliates fled. What a disgraceful incident!”

He further stated,

“They [Jamaat] are liars. Prayers behind them are invalid. They are anti-liberation war elements—part of the infamous 'vein-cutting group'. They never believed in Bangladesh’s independence and were allies of Pakistan. So, I call upon the people of Atgharia to rise up against them.”

Addressing allegations about the burning of Qur’an and Hadith books in a Jamaat office, Habib claimed,

“Our activists didn’t burn the Qur’an. They [Jamaat] did it themselves. I can say this with full responsibility: No BNP member can burn the Qur’an. If anyone can produce video footage proving BNP involvement, I will take full responsibility. Also, they must pay compensation for the 100 motorcycles they vandalized.”

Efforts to get a response from Pabna District Jamaat Amir Professor Abu Taleb Mondal and other responsible Jamaat leaders were unsuccessful, as none of them responded to repeated phone calls.