Islamist outfit loots library in Bangladesh, removes books written by 'atheists'

The books included those written by Bengali literary icons Rabindranath Tagore and  Kazi Nazrul Islam.

The library was closed temporarily after the incident.

The library was reportedly looted after Golam Rabbani, a leader of the Bangladesh Islami Khilafat Majlish, referred to the library as a "factory of atheists" in a Facebook post and called for dismantling it.

The library authorities lodged two written complaints with the police after books were looted by a group of youths on April 24.

Books Returned

Dhanbari Police Station Officer-in-charge (OC) SM Shahidullah told The Daily Star that following the complaint, a meeting chaired by Dhanbari Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Shahin Mahmud was held at the upazila council office.

"The meeting was held with the leaders from BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, Islami Khilafat Majlish, library officials, and local journalists, the OC added. "The matter was settled peacefully," he said.

According to reports, the books were later returned to the library authorities.

Sanjay Chandra Ghosh, secretary of Abhayaranya Library, told the newspaper, "Libraries are places of knowledge and ideas. All kinds of books should be available here."

Activities of Islamist groups have increased in Bangladesh ever since the fall of the former PM Sheikh Hasina-led government on August 5, 2025 amid severe protests against her regime over the job quota row.

Bangladesh witnessed a spike in attacks on minority groups, specially Hindus, since Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus took charge of the interim government following the fall of Hasina's regime.

Amid severe protests, Hasina fled to India.

Poila Boisakh Event Cancelled In Chittagong

Earlier this month, Organizers were forced to cancel the Poila Baisakh, or Bengali New Year, event in Chittagong's DC Hill region after unidentified people destroyed the stage and banners, disrupting the preparations for the annual celebration.

According to reports, this was the first time Poila Baisakh was not celebrated in DC Hill region in the past 47 years.

Sucharit Das Khokon, the council’s coordinator, told bdnews24, "We organisers have decided not to go ahead with the programme following the attack."

“We won’t organise the programme. The attack and the administration’s lack of cooperation led us to this decision. We’ve informed the additional deputy commissioner (general) of our decision not to hold the event,” he added.