Dhaka, May 15 -- A group of people have attacked and vandalised the shrine of Hazrat Shah Ali Baghdadi in Mirpur during an Urs or religious ritual on Thursday night.

Several devotees who were present at the shrine claimed that the attackers were affiliated with Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing, Islami Chhatra Shibir.

However, the local Member of Parliament from Jamaat-e-Islami, Mir Ahmad Bin Qasem (Barrister Arman), denied that any members of his party were involved.

He claimed that what happened was part of an "anti-drug operation" by police.

Police officials have also given different versions of what took place, with accounts varying between an anti-drug drive and an unauthorised operation carried out by local groups.

Followers...