Six Sufi Shrines Attacked in Bangladesh During First Half of 2026

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At least six Sufi shrines across Bangladesh were targeted in attacks during the first half of 2024, resulting in one death and multiple injuries, according to a report released Thursday by Maqam: Center for Sufi Heritage. The organization, which monitors the socio-political climate surrounding Sufi traditions, reported that the violence also left at least 10 people injured, including women.

The most lethal incident occurred on April 11 in Daulatpur, Kushtia, where a mob attacked the shrine of Pir Abdur Rahman, known as Shamim Baba. Under the pretext of alleged Quran desecration, assailants vandalized and set fire to the property, killing the Pir and injuring two of his followers. The report estimates the physical damage to the site at 2 million taka and notes that the subsequent legal case includes allegations of involvement by members of Jamaat-e-Islami and Khelafat Majlish.

Maqam documented that between January and June, shrines faced not only physical assaults but also police interference during religious observances, attempted attacks, and the spread of inflammatory rumors. Investigators identified religious friction, local power struggles, disputes over property control, and vigilante campaigns against alleged narcotics or gambling as the primary drivers behind these hostilities. As a result of the ongoing threats, at least two shrines have been forced to suspend their traditional ‘Urs’ festivals and other daily operations.

Despite the frequency of these incidents, judicial follow-up remains sparse. Legal action has been initiated in only two instances: the Kushtia murder case and an attack on the Shah Ali Baghdadi shrine in Dhaka’s Mirpur area. Law enforcement has arrested seven individuals in connection with these two cases, relying on video evidence and witness statements.

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While Maqam noted that the frequency of such attacks has decreased significantly compared to the period between August 2024 and December 2025—during which the organization verified 97 attacks out of 134 reported incidents—it warned that underlying social instability persists. Including the latest figures, the organization has now verified a total of 103 attacks on Sufi sites since August 2024.

Addressing the media in Dhaka, representatives from Maqam called on the government to launch independent, impartial investigations into all documented attacks. The organization is pressing for the prosecution of perpetrators and the provision of state-sponsored compensation to the affected shrines, emphasizing that current efforts to restore cultural diversity and social harmony remain insufficient.