Over 100 Sufi shrines and sacred sites vandalised since August 2024 as activists warn of a culture of impunity under the interim government.
Attacks on Sufi shrines, mazars and dargahs have surged dramatically across Bangladesh, with more than 100 recorded incidents between August 2024 and April 2026. The wave of vandalism has intensified in recent months, raising serious questions about the interim government’s ability to protect religious minorities and traditional Islamic sites revered by millions of devotees.
Monitoring group Makam has documented at least 27 fresh attacks in a short period, concentrated in several districts. The organisation’s latest tally shows 17 incidents in Cumilla, four in Chittagong, three in Noakhali, two in Brahmanbaria and one in Cox’s Bazar. Many of the targeted sites are centuries-old Sufi shrines visited by devotees seeking spiritual blessings, healing or intercession – practices that hardline groups label as un-Islamic.
Makam Documents 27 Fresh Incidents
Makam’s report paints a disturbing picture of coordinated or copycat vandalism. In several cases, attackers damaged domes, broke graves, tore down green flags and set fire to prayer halls or adjacent structures. Local residents often described the assailants as unidentified youths or groups claiming to act in the name of “pure” Islam.
The pattern echoes earlier findings. In January 2025, police headquarters acknowledged 44 attacks on 40 shrines since the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government on 5 August 2024. The number has now more than doubled, according to activists, despite repeated public assurances from the interim administration that law and order would be maintained.
Police Fail to Make Arrests in Multiple Cases
Impunity remains the most alarming aspect. In Dhamrai upazila of Savar, Dhaka, three shrines were vandalised during the interim government’s tenure, yet police have made no arrests. Similar stories emerge from other districts.
In one high-profile case in Kushtia’s Daulatpur upazila on 12 April 2026, a mob attacked a shrine following blasphemy allegations against its caretaker. The violence left one man dead and at least three others injured. An 18-minute video of the assault circulated widely on social media, showing crowds smashing structures and setting parts of the shrine ablaze. Despite the graphic evidence, progress in the investigation has been slow.
Rights activists argue that the lack of swift arrests and prosecutions has emboldened perpetrators. “When attackers see no consequences, the cycle continues,” said one Sufi community leader who asked not to be named for fear of reprisal. Many shrine caretakers (khadems) now live in fear, installing extra lights or hiring private guards with their own meagre resources.
Community Leaders Demand Stronger Action
The surge coincides with the political transition following the 2024 mass uprising that ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. While the interim government under Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus focused on electoral reforms and economic recovery, religious hardliners exploited the power vacuum. Groups associated with certain madrasas have been accused in past reports of instigating or participating in such attacks, though definitive links remain unproven in most cases.
Sufi practitioners, who form a significant part of Bangladesh’s syncretic Muslim culture, say the attacks are not merely about religion but also about land and influence. Some shrines sit on valuable property, and vandalism is sometimes followed by attempts to grab adjacent land. An opinion piece in a newspaper described the situation as “the land beneath the ashes,” noting that over 100 Sufi sites have been damaged with “chilling regularity.”
Local administrations have been instructed to ensure peace at shrines, yet ground-level enforcement appears inconsistent. District commissioners and police superintendents routinely issue statements condemning the violence, but follow-up action is rare. In September 2024, the government directed DCs to maintain order at religious sites after an earlier wave of attacks; two years later, the problem has worsened.
Devotees at affected shrines report a sharp decline in visitors. Annual urs (death anniversary celebrations) that once drew thousands now attract only a few hundred cautious pilgrims. The economic impact is also significant – shrines generate income for local communities through donations, shops and transport services.
Calls for Immediate Intervention
Civil society groups and Sufi organisations have urged the government to treat shrine attacks as a national security issue rather than isolated law-and-order problems. They demand a dedicated task force, faster investigations, digital monitoring of incitement on social media, and public awareness campaigns to counter extremist narratives against Sufi traditions.
Home affairs advisers have repeatedly assured the public that “strict action” will be taken, yet the absence of arrests continues to erode public trust. Police sources privately admit that identifying perpetrators is difficult when local communities fear retaliation and hesitate to provide evidence.
The continued desecration of shrines risks deepening communal divides. The country’s rich tradition of tolerant, syncretic Islam – embodied in its thousands of mazars and dargahs – now stands vulnerable.
