Unholy business
Rukan Uddin, Department of English, Leading University, Sylhet
The holy majars (shrines) of our country have now become a safe sanctuary of corruption. Some so-called caretakers or khadems, as they call themselves, are using the shrines as the shield for running their unlawful businesses and are spoiling the sanctity of these holy places. These people are using all the majars to deceive the gullible devotees. They earn millions by selling the huge number of sacrificial animals, piles of candles and all other things offered by the devotees. According to the Bureau of Statistics, there are twenty thousand majars in the country. Among them 1,500 majars are in Dhaka, 2,588 in Chittagong, 500 in Sylhet and others are located in different places of the country. Almost all these holy places are now occupied by some greedy khadems in the name of serving them. The majar authorities arrange two or three-day long oorsh (religious congregation) only to allure the disciples to collect money from them. Apart from this, some majars have become safe havens for the addicts. Though these evil practices have been continuing for years, the law enforcers seem to have always overlooked these things. So, I request the authorities concerned to take immediate steps to stop the illegal businesses at the holy shrines.
|
|
