For the past three decades, we, the members of Hezbut Tawheed, have been presenting the true ideals of Islam to people, standing against terrorism, exploitation of religion, unscrupulous politics, communal hatred, Islamophobia, religious extremism, and unnecessary religious frenzy leading to destruction and massacre in the name of religion. According to Articles 37 to 41 of Chapter 3 of the Constitution of Bangladesh, and Articles 18, 19, and 20 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948, granted by the United Nations, we are lawfully conducting meetings and gatherings in the interest of the country and the people.
So far, we have conducted over two hundred thousand street meetings, public gatherings, seminars, human chains, view-exchange meetings, roundtable discussions, press conferences, interfaith conferences, public relations campaigns, dialogues, cultural programs, etc., across the country. This is not only our constitutional and human right but also our religious right as Muslims, and our civic right and duty as patriotic citizens.
As we have raised our voice against unrighteousness in the name of religion, extremist religious groups and religion-mongerer are actively trying to hinder our initiatives. From the beginning, they have been propagating against this movement. Wherever our members went across the country to present the true teachings of Islam through newspapers, books, handbills, etc., they faced opposition from these religious fanatics. Numerous times, they have been attacked, injured, and brutally beaten. Recently, in various parts of the country, our innocent, law-abiding, unarmed members have been subjected to frenzied attacks. Newspapers have been snatched from their hands, torn apart, and burned. It was later found that in most cases, the attackers were members of various religious, political, or non-political extremist groups.
The first major attack occurred in Brahmanbaria on November 16, 2013, during the sale of a newspaper. Helal Uddin, a member of Hezbut Tawheed, along with Kabir, Taijul Islam, Md. Sadek, and Monirul Islam, were distributing newspapers in various parts of the district city. During this time, a fanatical group from Yunusiya Madrasa launched a brutal assault on them, attempting to kill them by beating them severely. Believing their victims to be dead, the attackers left them on the street. The police later rescued the injured men. Following the incident, they spent nearly six months in a hospital, fighting for their lives in an unconscious state. Such attacks continue to occur.
On June 18, 2024, the day after Eid-ul-Azha, members of Hezbut Tawheed went out to promote the daily Desherpatra. On this day, they were attacked in at least nine districts: Rajshahi, Savar, Sherpur, Feni, Narsingdi, Noakhali, Pabna, Chandpur, and Gazipur. Fifteen of our male and female activists were injured in these attacks.
Rajshahi
In Charghat, Rajshahi, while selling newspapers, four armed terrorists on motorcycles attacked Md. Nur Nabi Hazrat and Rajon Ali from behind. Nur Nabi's hand was broken by the attackers, and Rajon Ali suffered serious head injuries.
Narsingdi
On the same day, three female activists of Hezbut Tawheed — Zobaida Khatun, Ayesha Akhter Khadija, and Shantana Akhter Nipa — went to Hasnabad Bazaar in Raipura, Narsingdi, to sell newspapers. At this time, Rubel Mia, a local leader of the Chormonai Pir's political party, along with at least 10-12 people, started abusing them with obscene language and physically assaulted them by slapping, punching, and kicking. At one point, they tried to abduct the women by forcing them into a microbus. However, faced with resistance from the women, the attempt failed, and they were beaten severely with bamboo sticks, resulting in Zobaida Khatun's head being fractured and bruised.
Savar, Dhaka
On the same day, three members of Hezbut Tawheed — Khadija Khatun (33), Rehena Begum (45), and Selina Akhter (30) — went to Nambazar Katpotti area under Savar Thana to distribute newspapers. They were obstructed by terrorists affiliated with Jamaat-e-Islami, namely Kawsar (45), Rubel (37), Biplob (40), and 4-5 unknown individuals. At one point, they became enraged, punched Khadija Khatun in the face, tore up the newspapers, and tried to pull and tear her clothes. When the other two tried to assist her, they were also beaten and bloodied.
Noakhali
On the same day in Karmulla Bazaar, the Khatib of the Central Jame Mosque and the Principal of Idaratut Ahfiz International Madrasa, Abdullah Al Maruf, obstructed Hezbut Tawheed members from selling newspapers. He went live on Facebook and confiscated the newspapers from them, burning them on camera. Three members of Hezbut Tawheed were seriously injured by the terrorist attack there.
In 2023, female members of Hezbut Tawheed were attacked by religion-mongerer and their blind followers in various districts including Narsingdi, Lalbagh (Dhaka), Ashulia, Keraniganj, Noakhali, Rangpur, Kurigram, Munshiganj, Faridpur, Gazipur, Tangail, Kishoreganj, and Sherpur.
On May 5, 2003, Hezbut Tawheed member Saifullah was brutally beaten to death while distributing leaflets about The Call of True Islam at Bhurghata Bus Stand in Kalkini, Madaripur. Nine more members were left in critical condition. In the same year, Jamaat-e-Islami terrorists attacked the homesteads of local members of Hezbut Tawheed in Jugia, Kushtia, and murdered 55-year-old Rabeya Khatun.
Hezbut Tawheed’s leader, Imam Hossain Mohammad Salim, has faced attacks on his house four times from religious extremist groups like Jamaat-e-Islami, Chormonai, and Hefazat-e-Islam. On March 14, 2016, these groups, along with madrasa students, teachers and mullahs, spread rumors claiming a mosque under construction was a church and subsequently destroyed it. They burned houses and publicly slaughtered members Khokon and Rubel with a knife used for butchering cattle, severed their arteries, gouged out their eyes, and set their bodies on fire. They also attempted to murder another 114 members. Hezbut Tawheed has been a witness to such horrific displays of religious fanaticism.
Over the past three decades, many members' homes have been attacked, they have been crippled, and driven out of their areas, all due to the fatwas and incitements of these religious fanatics. Hezbut Tawheed’s district and sub-district offices in Madaripur, Rangpur, Kushtia, Pabna, and many other locations have been attacked.
On August 24, 2022, while a meeting was ongoing at the Charghospur office in Pabna, a group of miscreant terrorists, incited by local religious businessmen, attacked with various local weapons including machetes, rods, GI pipes, and cleavers. Md. Sujon Mondol was killed by the sharp weapons of the terrorists, and 10 other members were seriously injured.
On March 22, 2021, a group of religious fanatics armed with sticks, rods, machetes, and cleavers attacked the shop and residence of Hezbut Tawheed member Haji Md. Idris in Nasirnagar, Brahmanbaria. This attack was orchestrated by some Qoumi Mullahs and Controversial Religious Speakers of Hefazat Islam. In Noakhali's Hatiya Upazila, religion-mongerer incited a mob to attack the house of Md. Shariful Islam in North Adarsha village.
Members of Hezbut Tawheed have faced the wrath of religion-mongerer and extremists for presenting the true teachings of Islam against religious extremism. To date, they have been attacked by extremist groups over a thousand times across the country, resulting in casualties. Despite all this, Hezbut Tawheed has refrained from taking the law into their own hands and has sought justice through the authorities. We are hopeful that through our selfless effort and sacrifice of life and property, a mass awakening against religious fanaticism and the misuse of religion will soon emerge in Bangladesh, InshaAllah.
