Violence and loss of life over mosque construction, Section 144 imposed

Clashes and clashes are taking place in Pabna’s Bera Upazila over the construction of a mosque. The latest incident on Saturday (July 26) was vandalism, arson and looting of several houses following the death of an injured person. After these incidents, police and army patrols have been intensified in the area. Still, the situation in the area is tense. There is a possibility of another clash. The administration has recently imposed Section 144 in the area to avoid such incidents. This information was given in an order signed by Bera Upazila Executive Officer Md. Morshedul Islam on Sunday (July 27) morning. The order said that riots and riots are taking place in Tarapur village of Chakla union of Bera upazila, including fights with local weapons, arson, throwing of bricks and displaying of weapons, over the construction of a new mosque veranda. In addition, there is a risk of another bloody clash, according to the OC of Bera police station. In this situation, Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code 1898 has been imposed in the area from 10 am on July 27 to 10 am on July 28. During this time, carrying and displaying all types of firearms and sticks, using any type of miking or sound equipment, moving together of five or more people, meetings and processions, etc. will be prohibited. It is worth noting that a few years ago, there was a dispute over the performance of Qiyam in the Milad Mahfil at the old mosque in Bera Upazila. A party including the then cashier of the mosque, Matin, took a stand in favor of performing Qiyam and built a new mosque. Recently, an initiative was taken to build a veranda for this mosque. But another party objected to the construction of two mosques in the same village. In this regard, on Friday (July 25) morning, when the veranda of the new mosque was being built, that party blocked it. At that time, both sides engaged in a bloody clash with knives, sticks and sticks. At least 30 people from both sides were injured. Last Saturday, following the news of the death of a man named Hadis, 4-5 houses in the area were vandalized, looted, and set on fire.