Dhaka The government of Bangladesh has blocked the visit of controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik following strong objections from India and widespread public outrage. The Sheikh Hasina government, now led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus in an interim capacity, has clarified that Naik will not be allowed to enter the country.
According to reports by local daily Prothom Alo, the decision was taken during a high-level meeting of the Home Ministry’s Law and Order Core Committee held at the Dhaka Secretariat on Tuesday. The committee reviewed the potential security and diplomatic implications of Naik’s proposed visit before officially deciding to prohibit his entry.
Earlier, the Yunus government was reportedly preparing to welcome Zakir Naik for a two-day religious conference in Dhaka scheduled for November 28–29. The event was being organized by Spark Event Management, which had publicly announced its plans on social media to host the preacher. The program was to take place in the city’s Agargaon area, with organizers claiming to have received government clearance.
However, soon after the news of his proposed arrival broke, New Delhi lodged a formal objection. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs stated that if Naik were to travel to Bangladesh, his deportation to India should be ensured. Naik, a Mumbai-born preacher, faces multiple serious charges in India, including money laundering, hate speech, and promoting religious extremism.
Naik has been living in Malaysia since 2016 after fleeing India when the National Investigation Agency (NIA) booked him under anti-terror laws. He has since acquired permanent resident status there. His controversial speeches have been linked to several radicalization incidents, including the 2016 Dhaka café terror attack in which two of the attackers were reportedly influenced by his sermons.
Following these revelations, the then Sheikh Hasina government had banned Zakir Naik from entering Bangladesh. The recent attempt to reintroduce him sparked widespread criticism across Bangladeshi civil society and media, forcing the administration to backtrack.
With the latest move, Bangladesh’s interim government has reiterated its zero-tolerance policy toward extremism. Indian diplomatic sources have welcomed the decision, calling it a “positive and responsible step” for regional stability and counter-terrorism cooperation.
Zakir Naik remains wanted in India, and investigative agencies continue efforts to secure his extradition. The decision by Bangladesh, observers note, reflects growing regional consensus against individuals spreading extremist ideologies under the guise of religion.
