NATIONAL: India’s Most Wanted Zakir Naik Visits Bangladesh
Whispers from international outlets point to a surprising turn in Bangladesh’s diplomatic landscape.
Fugitive preacher Zakir Naik, long a polarizing figure, is slated for a month-long visit starting November 28.
Under Muhammad Yunus’s interim leadership, authorities are rolling out the welcome mat, complete with public addresses across key cities.
This isn’t just any trip. Organizers from Spark Event Management confirm government approval for events through December 20, a stark pivot from past restrictions.
For Naik’s supporters, it’s a long-awaited revival; for critics, a troubling signal on security priorities.
Shadows of the 2016 Horror
The backdrop casts a long shadow. In July 2016, gunmen stormed Dhaka’s Holey Artisan Bakery, claiming 29 lives in a siege that shook the nation.
One assailant later confessed to drawing inspiration from Naik’s online sermons, prompting swift backlash.
Hours after the assault, Naik slipped out of India, landing in Malaysia, where he remains.
India slapped him with charges of money laundering and inciting hatred, branding him a wanted man.
His global broadcasts, once a staple, faced shutdowns worldwide, including an outright ban on Peace TV in Bangladesh under then-leader Sheikh Hasina.
Policy Flip Under Yunus
Hasina’s era saw Naik persona non grata, his channel yanked off air to curb radical influences. Fast-forward to today: Yunus’s administration has greenlit the tour, eyeing it as a platform for dialogue on faith and charity.
Yet voices in New Delhi and human rights circles question the wisdom, citing Naik’s track record.
The shift underscores Dhaka’s evolving stance post-Hasina, blending outreach with old alliances.
Naik’s itinerary includes charity drives and talks in Dhaka, Chittagong, and beyond, drawing crowds eager for his comparative religion takes.
Echoes from Islamabad
This isn’t Naik’s first high-profile stop in the neighborhood. Last October, he touched down in Pakistan for a state-backed tour, greeted warmly by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Sharif hailed Naik’s “insightful” messages during a private meeting, praising his role in promoting Islamic teachings.
But reports surfaced of side meetings with figures linked to outlawed groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba, fueling intelligence concerns.
Pakistani officials dismissed the claims, framing the visit as a cultural exchange, though it drew flak from across the border.
Broader Ripples
As preparations hum in Bangladesh, the move stirs debate on free speech versus public safety.
Will Naik’s words bridge divides or widen them? With India watching closely, the tour could test fragile ties in South Asia’s tinderbox.
For now, the spotlight falls on Dhaka’s balancing act between heritage and hazard.