Tension has gripped Rajbari’s Goalanda upazila following a violent attack on the shrine of Nurul Haque, popularly known as Nural Pagla, that left one person dead and at least 50 others injured.
The violence included arson, vandalism, and the exhumation and burning of Nurul’s body, creating a volatile situation across the area.
Police confirmed that a case has been filed against approximately 3,500 unidentified individuals in connection with the attack, vandalism, and assault on law enforcement officers.
Sub-Inspector Selim Hossain of Goalanda Ghat police station filed the case after midnight on Friday, while additional superintendent of police Sharif Al Rajib confirmed the matter on Saturday.
Nurul died on August 23 and was buried in front of his home in a 12-foot-high structure painted to resemble the Kaaba, with a banner declaring it as the “Imam Mahdi (A.) Darbar Sharif.”
This sparked outrage among local religious groups, including the Goalanda Upazila Imam Parishad and Tawhidi Janata, who announced protests on August 26, demanding the structure be reduced, the banner removed, and the painting altered.
While the family agreed to two of the demands, they sought more time to lower the grave structure, with a deadline set for Thursday.
On Friday, following Jummah prayers, people in the name of Tawhidi Janata held a protest rally that escalated into violence.
Demonstrators attacked the shrine, set parts of it on fire, and vandalised police vehicles.
Clashes broke out, resulting in the death of Md. Rasel, 28, a resident of Debgram union, and injuries to at least 50 others, including journalists, women, and children.
Rasel’s death was confirmed by his cousin, district Chhatra Dal leader Shahriar Adnan Nur Islam.
Law enforcement and security forces, including the Army, RAB, and police, were deployed to control the situation, but around 4 p.m. they were forced to retreat under pressure from the enraged crowd.
Protesters then stormed the shrine, looted houses, vandalised property, exhumed Nurul Pagal’s body, and paraded it through the streets before setting it ablaze at Padma crossing.
By late afternoon, security forces, accompanied by magistrates, regained control of the area.
Heavy deployments remain in place, entry to the shrine has been banned, and the administration reports that while tension persists across Goalanda, the situation is currently under control.
