Peace TV banned in Bangladesh

“We have taken cognisance of Zakir Naik’s speeches and necessary instructions have been issued in this regard”, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said. “Naik says every Muslim should be a terrorist”.

Sopore township of Baramulla district and Kupwara town in north Kashmir also witnessed clashes between stonepelting protesters and security forces after the Friday prayers.

On the Dhaka attackers reportedly being inspired by his preaching, Naik, speaking over the phone from Mecca, said the largest percentage of his Facebook followers are from Bangladesh. “Our intelligence agencies are investigating his activities as his lectures appeared provocative”, Khan said.

In television interviews, Zakir Naik has denied the charge of spreading communal agenda or radical ideas even as government agencies are trying to probe the CDs.

According to the cabinet committee’s observations, the programme contents of Peace TV, in many cases, are inconsistent with the spirit of the holy Quran, Hadith, Sunnah, and also the constitution, culture and heritage of Bangladesh, Inu said.

The gruesome attack claimed the lives of 22 people, including 18 foreigners and two policemen, during the 12-hour siege which the security forces ended with a successful rescue operation codenamed as “Operation Thunderbolt”. “We are not going to take this lying down”, said party spokesman Tom Vadakkan. The Home Ministry has also ordered investigation into activities of Naik’s Islamic Research Foundation which is receives huge donations from overseas under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA).

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is the daughter of Bangladesh founder Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, popularly known as “Bangobandhu (friend of the people of Bangladesh)”.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had yesterday asked the Mumbai Police Commissioner to conduct a probe (into Naik’s speeches) and submit a report.

Britain and Canada also banned Dr. Naik from setting foot on their soil several years ago, while Malaysia banned his lectures fearing that they could instigate racial tensions.