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Staff Correspondent
Religious bigots under the banner of International Khatme Nabuwat Movement, Bangladesh, on Friday threatened to storm and capture the Ahmadiyya mosque at Nakhalpara in the city if the government failed to declare the community "˜non-Muslim' by next Friday.
The bigots said they would drive the Ahmadiyyas out of the country through a series of programmes and close all key installations and establishments, including the secretariat, Banga Bhaban and the Prime Minister's Office if the government failed to concede to their demand by the deadline.
They blocked traffic on Tongi Diversion Road and held a rally at the Nabisco crossing after juma prayers on Friday in presence of the police and other security forces. Traffic remained suspended on the road for about three hours.
More than 1,000 policemen were deployed at the crossing, GMG Lane, Volvo Lane and Tabani Lane to avert troubles.
At a gathering near the Ahmadiyya mosque at Tejgaon, the Khatme Nabuwat leaders demanded that the government should place a bill during the current session of the parliament to declare the community non-Muslim.
The police blocked all roads leading to the Ahmadiyya mosque and traffic remained suspended on Tongi Diversion Road between Moghbazar and Mahakhali crossing during the rally.
The bigots branded the Ahmadiyyas "˜non-believers' and "˜anti-Islamic.'
Secretary general of the movement, Mohammad Nazmul Haque said, "˜we are ready even to sacrifice our lives to make our plans successful and no force can hold us back.'
"˜We will not object to Ahmadiyyas performing their religious practices once they are declared non-Muslims,' he added.
Nayeb-e-Ameer Enayetullah Abbasi said: "˜The government has done a mistake ignoring our demands. We have decided to support those political parties in the next election which would include our demands in their election manifestoes.'
Khatme Nabuwat Ameer, Mahamudul Hasan Momtaji said: "˜We have taken to the street to make the government declare the Ahmadiyyas non-Muslims by next Friday.'
Criticising Jamaat leader Motiur Rahman Nizami, he said, "˜you have 18 members in the parliament, but why did you fail to place a bill in this regard?'
He announced a demonstration programme at Nabisco crossing after Asr prayers on Wednesday, and "˜siege' of Ahmadiyya mosque at Nakhalpara on Friday
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