Islamist groups in Bangladesh are mobilising for a massive rally in Dhaka on November 15, demanding that the Ahmadiyya Muslim community be officially declared “non-Muslim,” following Pakistan’s precedent. The rally, organised by the International Majlis Tahaffuz Khatme Nabuwwat and supported by Hefazat-e-Islam, has invited clerics from Pakistan, India, and Saudi Arabia, including leaders from Darul Uloom Deoband. The event has escalated fear within the small Ahmadiyya community, which numbers around a lakh in Bangladesh, amid threats of violence from extremist clerics.

The Ahmadiyyas in Bangladesh have historically faced persecution, mirroring patterns in Pakistan. The community has endured attacks on mosques, homes, and businesses, especially following political transitions, such as the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government on August 5, 2024. Extremist groups, citing the doctrine of the “Finality of Prophethood,” have long campaigned to marginalise Ahmadiyyas, branding them Qadianis and targeting their places of worship. The November 15 rally marks a significant escalation, with clerics threatening nationwide unrest if their demands are not met.

The rally also reflects the broader influence of Pakistan-inspired Islamist ideologies in Bangladesh. Extremist clerics have historically imported agendas from Pakistan, as seen in the 1980s and 1990s, and continue to push for legal and societal restrictions on Ahmadiyyas. With political shifts in Dhaka and increased visibility of extremist organisations, the Ahmadiyya community faces growing vulnerability, raising concerns about minority rights, religious freedom, and potential violence across the country.