Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh has condemned North South University student Apurba Pal for desecrating the Quran and demanded his exemplary trial by the caretaker government. The group warned of a long march to Dhaka if justice is not ensured, citing deliberate intent and past failures to punish religious insults. They also urged strict laws against religious desecration to prevent unrest.
Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh has strongly condemned the incident of Quran desecration by North South University student Apurba Pal and demanded that the caretaker government immediately ensure his exemplary trial. In a statement, the group’s Amir Allama Muhibbullah Babunagari and Secretary General Allama Sajedur Rahman warned that if Apurba, who desecrated the Quran, is not given exemplary punishment, they will stage a long march toward Dhaka.
In the statement they said the shocking scene of Quran desecration by North South University student Apurba Pal has caused bleeding hearts among tens of millions of devout Muslim people in the country. The student himself amplified the crime by posting the video of the Quran desecration on his Facebook profile, committing an even greater offence. This indicates he did it knowingly. We strongly condemn the incident and demand that the caretaker government ensure his exemplary trial. Earlier, a teacher at North South University had been dismissed for citing hadith in class. The university authorities must also comment on Apurba Pal’s act of Quran desecration.
They added that from his gestures, words and extremism shown in the viral video, he did not appear to be insane in any way; rather, it seems the act was carried out deliberately. If any domestic or foreign agency is involved behind Apurba Pal’s heinous crime, the government must identify it. At this critical juncture for the country, conspiracies aimed at inciting unrest and destabilising the situation must be stopped.
They further said that whenever Islam and the Prophet (pbuh) are insulted, some people, furious and desperate to teach devout Muslims a lesson, lose all patience. In the past we have repeatedly shown forbearance in the hope of justice. But in the end there was no justice. Even in the ugly-language insults by Rakhāl Rahā and poet Sohel Hasan Galib, we patiently placed our trust in the law. Yet no trial took place. Patience and the cause of peace have been repeatedly betrayed in dealing with devout Muslims. From Palestine to Bangladesh—the picture is the same!
The leaders also said we do not want to be deceived any more. To stop insults to religion there is no alternative to enacting a law with the maximum punishment. If the government does not ensure exemplary trial of Apurba Pal, the Quran-desecrator, we will be forced to consult with the country’s senior ulema and call for a long march toward Dhaka. We have shown sufficient patience. There can be no more concessions.