Hundreds took to the street in protest on Friday, calling for an official declaration that Ahmadis – also known as Qadianis – are not Muslims.
Activists and supporters of Bangladesh Forayezi Andolon marched around the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque, calling on the government to pass a law in the parliament to make sure this happens.
More than 1,400 people took part in the protest brought out after Friday prayers, sources said.
During the march, the protesters chanted: "Boycott Qadiani products" and "Qadianis cannot live in Bangladesh with Muslim identity."
Many Muslims in the South Asian sub-continent do not consider the Qadianis, a heterodox religious group, to be Muslim and have repeatedly called for them to be declared non-Muslims.
Former Hefazat-e-Islam chief Shah Ahmed Shafi said, "Qadianis should be officially declared non-Muslims. They are non-Muslims, and those who call them Muslims are non-Muslims, too."
"Qadianis are heretics as they do not recognize Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) as the final messenger."
