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Bangladeshi activist reports about the country’s Shiites
The representative of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly in Bangladesh stated, “With the presence of three thousand followers of AhlulBayt (a.s.) from all over Bangladesh and with the cooperation of the government, the mourning ceremony on Arbaeen Day of Imam Hussain (a.s.) is held every year in Khulna.”
ABWA Official Website – Located in Southeast Asia, Bangladesh has a majority Muslim population of 88.3 percent. 10.5% of the country’s population are Hindus, and there is a peaceful coexistence among the country’s ethnic and religious groups that is outstanding in the subcontinent.
Although the constitution of Bangladesh emphasizes the freedom of all religions, in an amendment added in 1988, Islam was declared the official religion of the country.
On the sidelines of the 7th General Assembly of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly, ABNA News Agency conducted an interview with Hojat al-Islam Syed Ibrahim Khalil Rizvi, a cultural and social activist, and the Assembly’s representative in Bangladesh, parts of which are mentioned below.
Regarding the activities of the missionaries of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) school in Bangladesh, Hojat al-Islam Syed Rizvi said, “A total of 24 missionaries in Bangladesh are engaged in missionary activities in different regions and they are in contact with the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly. A seminary is established in the country that has been active in training the clergy for more than 38 years. By God’s grace, more than fifty graduates of this seminary have been admitted to Qom and Najaf seminaries. Some of them have continued their studies up to the doctorate level and then returned to their home country Bangladesh and are currently working in mosques and Hussainiyyas.”
“We have a magazine called “Fajr”, which has been published for 35 years with an official license from the government, and its publication has not been stopped or delayed even once. We send this magazine to believers and even some government officials, and it is completely clear that it advocates Jafari Fiqh,” Hojat al-Islam Syed Rizvi continued.
Regarding the translation of books about the AhlulBayt (a.s.) school and the research on this matter, he said, “Translation of books is a necessity to introduce the AhlulBayt (a.s.) school to the people of Bangladesh. Therefore, many ulama are working on this issue. I have personally translated 43 books related to the AhlulBayt (a.s.) school into Bengali, including “Shiite Answers” by Grand Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi, “Immunity of the Quran from Distortion” by Ayatollah Hadi Ma’arfet, and “Debates of the Infallible Imams (a.s.)” by Grand Ayatollah Jafar Sobhani. Also, at the Shiite seminary in Khulna, there is a research unit where students engage in research activities on AhlulBayt (a.s.) school.”
On the activities of Takfiris against Shiites in Bangladesh, Syed Rizvi said, “A couple of years ago, they attacked some Shiite centers in Bangladesh. Following the attack, a TV panel discussion was held live on national TV with our presence, and it was well received by the people. After the TV program, the Minister of Interior requested us to hold a seminar on religions and denominations, to create harmony between denominations and religions, and to declare that religion has nothing to do with such behaviors and that killing innocent people is not allowed in any religion. These measures and some other seminars and conferences caused all the religions of Bangladesh to condemn the attacks on Shiite centers in Bangladesh, and by weakening the extremist Wahhabi movements by the Bangladesh government, our problems in this regard were solved to a large extent.”
In response to a question about the relations between the Shiites and the followers of other religions and denominations in Bangladesh, Syed Rizvi said, “The government of Bangladesh supports all religions existing in the country. Shiites of Bangladesh also have good relations with followers of all religions and denominations, especially religious minorities of the country. If a religious minority is attacked in Bangladesh, the whole country denounces it and supports that minority. Therefore, no one dares to speak against religions in Bangladesh, even if that religion is in the minority. Muslims in Bangladesh also have friendly and brotherly relations with Hindus and Buddhists.”
“One of the advantages of Bangladesh is that if a Muslim’s house is on fire, a Christian brother will rush to help that Muslim sooner than a Muslim brother and followers of all religions are living freely in this country,” said in the end Hojat al-Islam Syed Ibrahim Khalil Rizvi, a cultural and social activist, and the representative of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly in Bangladesh.
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The representative of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly in Bangladesh stated, “With the presence of three thousand followers of AhlulBayt (a.s.) from all over Bangladesh and with the cooperation of the government, the mourning ceremony on Arbaeen Day of Imam Hussain (a.s.) is held every year in Khulna.”
ABWA Official Website – Located in Southeast Asia, Bangladesh has a majority Muslim population of 88.3 percent. 10.5% of the country’s population are Hindus, and there is a peaceful coexistence among the country’s ethnic and religious groups that is outstanding in the subcontinent.
Although the constitution of Bangladesh emphasizes the freedom of all religions, in an amendment added in 1988, Islam was declared the official religion of the country.
On the sidelines of the 7th General Assembly of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly, ABNA News Agency conducted an interview with Hojat al-Islam Syed Ibrahim Khalil Rizvi, a cultural and social activist, and the Assembly’s representative in Bangladesh, parts of which are mentioned below.
Regarding the activities of the missionaries of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) school in Bangladesh, Hojat al-Islam Syed Rizvi said, “A total of 24 missionaries in Bangladesh are engaged in missionary activities in different regions and they are in contact with the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly. A seminary is established in the country that has been active in training the clergy for more than 38 years. By God’s grace, more than fifty graduates of this seminary have been admitted to Qom and Najaf seminaries. Some of them have continued their studies up to the doctorate level and then returned to their home country Bangladesh and are currently working in mosques and Hussainiyyas.”
“We have a magazine called “Fajr”, which has been published for 35 years with an official license from the government, and its publication has not been stopped or delayed even once. We send this magazine to believers and even some government officials, and it is completely clear that it advocates Jafari Fiqh,” Hojat al-Islam Syed Rizvi continued.
Regarding the translation of books about the AhlulBayt (a.s.) school and the research on this matter, he said, “Translation of books is a necessity to introduce the AhlulBayt (a.s.) school to the people of Bangladesh. Therefore, many ulama are working on this issue. I have personally translated 43 books related to the AhlulBayt (a.s.) school into Bengali, including “Shiite Answers” by Grand Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi, “Immunity of the Quran from Distortion” by Ayatollah Hadi Ma’arfet, and “Debates of the Infallible Imams (a.s.)” by Grand Ayatollah Jafar Sobhani. Also, at the Shiite seminary in Khulna, there is a research unit where students engage in research activities on AhlulBayt (a.s.) school.”
On the activities of Takfiris against Shiites in Bangladesh, Syed Rizvi said, “A couple of years ago, they attacked some Shiite centers in Bangladesh. Following the attack, a TV panel discussion was held live on national TV with our presence, and it was well received by the people. After the TV program, the Minister of Interior requested us to hold a seminar on religions and denominations, to create harmony between denominations and religions, and to declare that religion has nothing to do with such behaviors and that killing innocent people is not allowed in any religion. These measures and some other seminars and conferences caused all the religions of Bangladesh to condemn the attacks on Shiite centers in Bangladesh, and by weakening the extremist Wahhabi movements by the Bangladesh government, our problems in this regard were solved to a large extent.”
In response to a question about the relations between the Shiites and the followers of other religions and denominations in Bangladesh, Syed Rizvi said, “The government of Bangladesh supports all religions existing in the country. Shiites of Bangladesh also have good relations with followers of all religions and denominations, especially religious minorities of the country. If a religious minority is attacked in Bangladesh, the whole country denounces it and supports that minority. Therefore, no one dares to speak against religions in Bangladesh, even if that religion is in the minority. Muslims in Bangladesh also have friendly and brotherly relations with Hindus and Buddhists.”
“One of the advantages of Bangladesh is that if a Muslim’s house is on fire, a Christian brother will rush to help that Muslim sooner than a Muslim brother and followers of all religions are living freely in this country,” said in the end Hojat al-Islam Syed Ibrahim Khalil Rizvi, a cultural and social activist, and the representative of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly in Bangladesh.
/345/