How is Saudi establishing its dominance in Bangladesh?

Since the formation of Yunus government in Bangladesh, countries like America, China, Pakistan and Türkiye are trying to increase their influence. America and China have also got partial success, but till now Saudi Arabia has won the biggest win. That too in a silent manner. Interestingly, Saudi did not even make any deal with the Bangladesh government for this work.

Bangladesh, located in India’s neighbourhood, has a population of 18 crores. More than 90 percent Muslims live here. Bangladesh was established after separating from Pakistan in 1971.

Why is Saudi’s grip getting stronger?

In the last one year, more than 250 incidents of attacks on Dargahs and temples have taken place in Bangladesh. At the local level, the Wahabi community is being held responsible for the attacks on Dargahs and temples. Cases have also been registered against people belonging to this community at many places around Dhaka.

People of other sects are also continuously keeping Wahabis on their radar. It is being said that Wahabis are behind the fundamentalism that is being promoted in Bangladesh. These Wahhabis get funds from Saudi Arabia only. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had openly talked about funding Wahhabis in 2018.

In such a situation, the way Wahhabis are becoming stronger, Saudi can directly benefit from it in the future. Because people of Wahabi community get training from Saudi only. Then they work to take this sect forward in their own country.

Wahabis are a minority in Bangladesh. The number of Deoband and Sufi Muslims is high in Bangladesh.

Question- After all, who are Wahabis?

Wahhabi is a tradition in the religion of Islam, which considers itself the followers of Abdul Wahhab Najdi. In the 18th century, Islamic scholar Abdul Wahab Najdi started a movement in Mecca. Wahab was born in 1703 in Najd province of Saudi. Wahhabis follow the strictest version of Islam.

Those who believe in Wahab do not believe in graves, worship and shrines. The people of Wahab recognize only the places associated with the Prophet. When the Wahhab movement was on the rise in Saudi, hundreds of tombs and monuments were destroyed.

Wahhabists do not believe in any kind of mysticism or special powers of saints within Islam.