A mob stormed the grave site of Nurul Haque alias Nural Pagla in Goalanda, Rajbari, exhumed the body and then set it on fire on the Dhaka-Khulna highway on Friday.
Nurul Haque had over the years styled himself as a saint and garnered a substantial following.
According to locals, a protest against Nurul, who died 13 days ago, had been organised by the Iman Aqeedah Raksha Committee at the Shaheed Fakir Mohiuddin Ansar Club premises in Goalanda Bazar after the Friday prayers.
The statement said such acts of barbarity will not be tolerated under any circumstances.
According to protesters, Nurul Pagla and his devotees were "against Shariah".
During the protest, a group of agitated people appeared in the procession carrying axes, large hammers and sticks. They marched towards Nurul's burial site, where they were stopped by law enforcers, resulting in a clash.
Eyewitnesses said the mob – comprising several hundred – attacked police pickups and a vehicle belonging to the upazila nirbahi officer.
At one point they broke into the burial site, beat up the devotees there and then forcefully exhumed the body.
The procession also attacked his home, which is near the grave.
They then set his body on fire on the highway.
Hospital sources said at least fifty were injured as of 5:00pm. They have gone to Rajbari, Faridpur for primary treatment.
Ashok Kumar Das, medical officer of Goalanda Upazila Health Complex, said all the victims bore signs of injuries of being hit with brickbats, sticks and sharp weapons.
Rajbari Police Superintendent Kamrul Islam said the situation is currently under control.
The burial site is also being patrolled by police, he added.
After Nurul's death on 23 August, his body was buried the same night in a vault a few feet above ground.
Local clerics expressed their anger over the matter and demanded that the grave be flattened.
According to Bangla daily Prothom Alo, the Iman Aqeedah Raksha Committee held a press conference on Tuesday, during which it accused Nurul Haque of immoral activities at his residence. They made various demands, including the proper burial of the deceased by Thursday, failing which a protest rally would be held after Friday prayers.
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