On January 11, during the final day of a three-day Tafsir-ul-Quran Mahfil held at the MC College grounds in Sylhet, Islamic scholar Dr. Mizanur Rahman Azhari delivered a speech. A claim surfaced in Indian media and various online platforms, alleging that the nearby Gopaltila Shiva Temple was covered with curtains due to this event, accompanied by several images.
See the reports in Indian media on this claim: News18 Bangla (YouTube).

See related posts on X here: Post 1 (Archive), Post 2 (Archive), Post 3 (Archive).
See similar posts on Facebook: Post 1 (Archive), Post 2 (Archive).
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Fact-Check
An investigation by the Rumor Scanner team revealed that the claim about covering the nearby Gopaltila Shiva Temple with fabric due to Dr. Mizanur Rahman Azhari’s speech is false. The coverings were actually placed to protect Saraswati idols under construction from fog damage and to minimize unnecessary curiosity from children and teenagers.
A Facebook post shared on January 13 by Hasan Al Mahmud, a Senior Research Assistant at the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B) and former journalist, clarified that the images in question were indeed from Sylhet’s Gopal Tila Temple. The temple was covered with plastic to shield the Saraswati idols under construction from fog.
Mr. Mahmud explained that the plastic coverings were put up three days before the event and remained there even after the Mahfil had ended. They are likely to remain for several more days.

Additionally, Himadri Kar Purkayastha, General Secretary of the temple committee, confirmed to Mr. Mahmud that the claim was entirely false. He stated that the coverings were installed by the artisan making the idols.
Later, Rumor Scanner contacted Hasan Al Mahmud for more details. Mr. Mahmud provided additional photographs of the temple and a video message from the temple committee’s General Secretary. In the video, the General Secretary reiterated that the claim was baseless.
When Rumor Scanner further contacted Himadri Kar Purkayastha, he stated that the claim circulating online was completely untrue. He explained that the temple committee allowed a local artisan to create Saraswati idols on the temple premises, as the temple is a secure location. To protect the idols from winter fog and to avoid unnecessary attention from children, the artisan himself covered the area with fabric.
Additionally, he noted that the Mahfil organizers proactively contacted him to ensure the event’s microphone system would not disturb the temple. They even offered to relocate the microphones if necessary, reflecting a cooperative and respectful approach from both parties.
Conclusion
The claim that the Gopaltila Shiva Temple in Sylhet was covered with fabric in connection with Dr. Mizanur Rahman Azhari’s religious event is misleading.
Sources
- Hasan Al Mahmud’s Facebook Post
- Statement from Himadri Kar Purkayastha, General Secretary of Gopal Tila Temple Committee
- Rumor Scanner’s Analysis