Mahfuz Alam spoke at the national dialogue titled “Mazar Culture: Violence, Crisis, and Future Perspectives” held at the BMA Building in Segunbagicha, Dhaka on Saturday morning. The dialogue was organised by Makam, a platform that conducts research on the Sufi community. Information Advisor Mahfuz Alam was the chief guest of the event.

Mahfuz Alam said that he has heard that the Awami League is trying to establish connections with the darbars (shrines). He explained that the message being conveyed to these darbars is that Professor Yunus’ government is demolishing shrines and evicting people from mosques. He emphasised that this issue is not specific to the interim government; it has been ongoing for the past 50 years. With each change of government, mosque committees and the governing body of the Islamic Foundation are replaced.

The Information Advisor further stated that while state-led fascism may have ended, social-level fascism still persists. He warned that unless opportunities for dialogue and connection are created among the various branches of Islam in the country, the state will face serious challenges. He noted that 90 to 92 per cent of the population are Muslims, with different sects and traditions. Political leaders have so far not considered how to coordinate among them; instead, they have divided groups—some aligning with the Qawmi community, others with Sunnis—and have used religious institutions as instruments of politics.