Maulana Muhyuddin Rabbani, Secretary General of the International Majlis Tahaffuze Khatme Nabuwat Bangladesh, has expressed deep sorrow and strong condemnation over the recent desecration of the Holy Quran at North South University.
In a statement on Sunday (5 October), he said that the shocking incident of publicly disrespecting the sacred Al-Quran at one of the country’s leading private universities has not only hurt the religious sentiments of Muslims but also directly attacked Bangladesh’s constitutional values, the religious beliefs of the Muslim majority, social harmony, and moral foundations.
Maulana Rabbani expressed surprise that despite the incident occurring around 9 AM, the university administration delayed handing over the accused to law enforcement for 13 hours. Such negligence and irresponsible attitude indicate administrative failure and raise concerns about attempts to cover up the incident.
He further criticized attempts by various quarters to portray the accused, Opurb Pal (also known as Mohammad Opurb Radh), as mentally ill or unwell. According to him, this is a harmful old practice that has repeatedly protected offenders and paved the way for similar incidents to recur. Religious desecration is not a mental disorder but a premeditated and heinous crime. Using such excuses to hide the real crime sets a dangerous precedent for state and social security.
Maulana Rabbani demanded swift and transparent investigation into Opurb Pal’s actions and urged that exemplary punishment be ensured. He also called for disciplinary and legal action against the North South University administration for their delayed response and secretive conduct. The university’s previous anti-religious or biased decisions should be reviewed to uphold justice. Furthermore, he emphasized the urgent need for the government to formulate strict policies at the national level to prevent religious desecration, Islamophobic activities, or negligence in any educational institution in the future.
He urged the government to respect the religious sentiments of Bangladesh’s Muslim majority by ensuring prompt justice and setting a strong precedent so that no one dares to commit such disgraceful acts again.
Maulana Rabbani concluded by saying, “The Holy Quran is the life of Muslims. If any individual or institution disrespects this sanctity, it is not only an offense against one religion but against all humanity. Allah says, ‘Indeed, those who respect the symbols of Allah – indeed, it is from the piety of hearts.’ (Surah Al-Hajj, Ayah 32). We are steadfast in protecting the dignity of Allah’s Book and demand justice within the framework of peace, discipline, and law.”
