We are ‘peace-loving people’: Singapore Bangladesh Society shocked, upset by extremist preacher’s sermon

SINGAPORE: A Bangladeshi extremist preacher who delivered an illegal sermon to migrant workers in Singapore has shocked the Bangladesh Society, said a spokesperson on Friday (Aug 23).
The spokesperson called the incident “upsetting” and told CNA that those coming from their home country are “peace-loving people”.
The preacher, Amir Hamza, gave a sermon to migrant workers at the Lantana Lodge dormitory in Tuas on Aug 9. 
His sermon “propagated extremist and segregationist teachings that were dangerous and detrimental to Singapore’s communal harmony”, said the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
The Singapore Bangladesh Society is a non-profit organisation aimed at promoting mutual understanding between Singaporeans and Bangladeshis. 
“They want to do their jobs and at the end of (the day) go back to their dormitories. They want to live a peaceful life here in Singapore,” the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson, who has been with the society for 17 years, added that Bangladeshis in Singapore mostly do not want to be involved in controversial discussions. At the same time, he acknowledged that they may not know what can go wrong.
“Maybe there are 10 people going, so (they think) okay I will also follow. They probably don’t know the consequences,” he added.
On Wednesday night, the society issued an advisory on Facebook and WhatsApp to its over 700 members, urging those who attended the sermon to not get “carried away with the messages from such irresponsible speakers and end up getting into trouble here”.
“Those worker brothers who had attended Amir Hamzah’s speech should not be carried away and react adversely,” said the society.
“They should not try to participate in any acts in Singapore that could affect the safety and harmony of Singapore.
“All Bangladeshi workers are also reminded to abide by the laws of Singapore and not to bring into Singapore any issues that are occurring back in Bangladesh or other countries,” the advisory read. 
More than 450 people were killed during the weeks of protests leading up to the ouster of former Bangladeshi prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Aug 5.
When CNA visited the dormitory on Thursday evening, the name and logo of a company called SBM Group were seen on the building.
According to its website, SBM Group started operations in 2007 and offers services such as ship building and repairing, steel works and piping. It also has a travel company under its wing.
When CNA asked SBM Group about the sermon, the company declined to comment and hung up.
On Thursday evening, workers in uniforms bearing the SBM name could be seen getting off buses and lorries and entering the dormitory. 
Five workers who spoke to CNA – all of whom did not want to be named – said they had no clue who arranged Amir Hamza’s sermon.
Two workers said they were Hindus and did not go for the sermon, but others who attended said they only heard about the sermon the day before.
When asked why they decided to go for it, one worker said: “We are Muslim. They are coming from our country. They advise something so we (listen).”
Moreover, as the speech was about his religion, he felt that he “must try to attend”.
The worker, who has been with SBM Group for seven years, added that Amir Hamza spoke about how they should perform daily prayers, and what they should follow, do and not do as Muslims. 
A post on Reddit, which included reported footage of Amir Hamza’s sermon, noted that the preacher mentioned how “harams” and things against Islam must be “cleansed and made halal”. 
Hamza also allegedly told workers to practice monotheism whereby there is only one God, and that worshipping any other deity is considered the “biggest crime” in Islam.
Another worker, who has been with the company for 10 years, added that Amir Hamza is “famous” in Bangladesh, but pointed out that there were “problems” between the preacher and the Bangladeshi government. 
In 2021, Amir Hamza was arrested in Bangladesh for his purported terror links, terrorism-related activities and inciting militancy. He was reportedly released on bail in December last year while awaiting trial.
“Last time he said good things, but I don’t know what is the problem between our government side and him,” said the worker. 
The Bangladeshi national added that the dormitory has around 500 to 600 workers and that only those who are Muslims attended the sermon, without giving a figure.
Amir Hamza had entered Singapore using a passport with a name that was different from what was in the country’s security databases, said MHA on Wednesday.
The ministry added that authorities are investigating those involved in the Aug 9 event and will “take strong action” if they are found to have breached Singapore’s laws or posed security concerns.
This includes deportation, prosecution or detention under the Internal Security Act.
Amir Hamza has attracted security attention in Bangladesh for his alleged extremist teachings and terror links, said MHA.
“He has reportedly promoted religious intolerance, hatred and violence in his sermons. He is also alleged to be an influential figure in Ansar al-Islam (AAI), a pro-Al-Qaeda terrorist organisation operating in Bangladesh,” said the ministry.
Amir Hamza’s speeches have also allegedly influenced a Bangladeshi AAI-linked terror suspect who planned to attack the Bangladesh parliament.
Bangladeshi news outlet The Business Standard reported in 2020 that at least 60 scholars, including Amir Hamza, came up with unscientific comments and disinformation in sermons during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The report quoted a resident who said he had learnt from Amir Hamza’s videos that “nothing will happen to true Muslims” and he did not wear a mask nor wash his hands. 
In April, the preacher was indicted along with four other suspects for instigating militancy, reported Bangladeshi news outlet bdnews24.com.
According to case documents, Amir Hamza used to travel across the country on a jeep to “strengthen” the banned militant group Ansar al-Islam.
He reportedly confessed during an interrogation that he had instigated the public to “adopt seditious activities” while delivering religious sermons. The preacher also worked to “disrupt” public security and instigated people to take part in jihad, or holy war.
Following his sermon in Singapore on Aug 9, Amir Hamza left the country the next day and authorities received police reports on Aug 12.