Imam Found in Panchagarh After Being Abducted and Tortured

An imam from Gazipur’s Tongi, Mohammad Muhibullah Miazi (65), was found in Panchagarh after being abducted and tortured. His feet were chained to a banana tree when he was rescued by police.

Muhibullah Miazi, the head imam of the BTCL T&T Colony Mosque, had gone missing after leaving his home for a walk on Wednesday morning. On Thursday morning, he was found near the Sitagram Helipad area on the Panchagarh-Banglabandha highway.

Local people and the imam’s community recognized him after seeing his photo on social media. They called the emergency services, and the police arrived to rescue him, taking him to the Panchagarh Modern General Hospital.

According to the victim, he was abducted by four or five individuals who arrived in an ambulance. They blindfolded him, beat him with a glass bottle, and threatened him. He also claimed that the abductors spoke in standard Bengali, but appeared not to be native Bangladeshis.

Muhibullah Miazi revealed that he had been receiving threatening anonymous letters for the past 11 months. These letters urged him to speak in favor of "Akhand Bharat" (Undivided India) and the ISKCON movement, and to speak against Bangladeshi religious and political groups, including the BNP and Jatiya Party. He mentioned that the most recent letter, received on October 21, warned him against mentioning religious terms such as "Quran," "Islam," or "Allah."

Doctors at the hospital confirmed that Muhibullah Miazi had been beaten but showed no signs of drug consumption. The imam, who has diabetes and has undergone two previous surgeries, was in a fragile state when brought to the hospital but is now out of danger.

The local police are investigating the case, and a team has been sent to Gazipur to assist in the inquiry. Meanwhile, members of the Jamaat-e-Islami and Islamic Movement of Bangladesh have visited the hospital to express solidarity.