Dhaka: Bangladesh was reeling under massive civil chaos overnight from August 6-7 following the burning of the Quran by two men. Police said “at least 10,000” people took to the streets on August 6 night as they tried to attack the two men accused of destroying the holy book.
Police officer Ajbahar Ali Shaikh was quoted by media as saying that at least 14 policemen were left injured as they tried to bring the situation under control. Police have identified a school principal, named Nurur Rahman, and his aide, Mahbub Alam, as the culprits and detained them from the northeastern city of Sylhet.
Sylhet is one of the most conservative parts of the Muslim-majority country. Police also seized at least 45 copies of damaged Qurans from them. The accused men claim that the destroyed Qurans were very old and had some printing mistakes. According to Muslim scholars, disposing of the holy book is only permissible if done respectfully.
Sylhet Metropolitan Police (SMP) Commissioner Md Elias Sharif was quoted as saying by the Dhaka Tribune that teachers, students and other residents of the area were particularly furious at the principal and the other man.
“At one point, people attacked them. The chairman and the other man were heavily beaten. They were later rescued by the police,” he added. Police said the situation was brought under control by 2:00 am on August 7.
