Md Joynal Abedin Khan :
Three people, including a madrasa student, were killed and more than 100 others injured in a clash between Sunni and Wahabi followers focusing Islamic congregation (Mahfil) in Dorboste area of Jaintapur upazila in Sylhet on Monday night.
The deceased have been identified as Mozammel Hossain, a student of Tafsir Group of Haripur Madrasa. He hailed from Goinghat upazila of the district. Besides, three-year old baby girl Sadia Akhter and a 22-year old Abdul Kadir were also killed during the clash, reports our local correspondent quoting police.
The whole area turned into a battlefield when the followers of both the factional groups torched at least 70-80 houses and vandalized dozens of shops and establishments.
The clash also intensified in some villages when the death of three persons aired through loudspeaker in the area at the fateful night, police said.
According to the locals, the clash ensued when Wahabi followers reportedly launched an attack on a religious congregation arranged by Sunni followers around 11:00pm on Monday. Later, the sporadic clashes continued between the two groups till Tuesday morning.
The groups also vandalized and set fire to at least 70 to 80 houses of Kathalbari, Aambari and Jhingabari villages, they said.
The agitated people joining the congregation also
blocked Sylhet-Tamabil road for four hours, creating long tailbacks on both sides of the road, according to them.
Of the injured, 20 were admitted to Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital while the rest received treatment at different local hospitals.
Additional forces have deployed in the area to fend off further trouble as a tense situation is prevailing following the clash, said Khan Md Moinul Jakir, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Jointapur Police Station, said.
“Followers of Wahabi ideology clashed with the Sunnis leaving a student dead on the spot,” the OC said.
Traffic on the Sylhet-Tamabil highway came to a standstill as the clashes continued for about four hours. Police, however, brought the situation under control, he said.
Meanwhile, a three-member probe body led by Sahidul Islam Chowdhury, Additional Deputy Commissioner (General), has been formed to investigate into the incident and it has been also asked to submit the report within seven working days.
The others members are Additional District Magistrate Sandwip Kumar Shah and Jaintapur Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Mourin Karim, said the committee chief.
Three people, including a madrasa student, were killed and more than 100 others injured in a clash between Sunni and Wahabi followers focusing Islamic congregation (Mahfil) in Dorboste area of Jaintapur upazila in Sylhet on Monday night.
The deceased have been identified as Mozammel Hossain, a student of Tafsir Group of Haripur Madrasa. He hailed from Goinghat upazila of the district. Besides, three-year old baby girl Sadia Akhter and a 22-year old Abdul Kadir were also killed during the clash, reports our local correspondent quoting police.
The whole area turned into a battlefield when the followers of both the factional groups torched at least 70-80 houses and vandalized dozens of shops and establishments.
The clash also intensified in some villages when the death of three persons aired through loudspeaker in the area at the fateful night, police said.
According to the locals, the clash ensued when Wahabi followers reportedly launched an attack on a religious congregation arranged by Sunni followers around 11:00pm on Monday. Later, the sporadic clashes continued between the two groups till Tuesday morning.
The groups also vandalized and set fire to at least 70 to 80 houses of Kathalbari, Aambari and Jhingabari villages, they said.
The agitated people joining the congregation also
blocked Sylhet-Tamabil road for four hours, creating long tailbacks on both sides of the road, according to them.
Of the injured, 20 were admitted to Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital while the rest received treatment at different local hospitals.
Additional forces have deployed in the area to fend off further trouble as a tense situation is prevailing following the clash, said Khan Md Moinul Jakir, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Jointapur Police Station, said.
“Followers of Wahabi ideology clashed with the Sunnis leaving a student dead on the spot,” the OC said.
Traffic on the Sylhet-Tamabil highway came to a standstill as the clashes continued for about four hours. Police, however, brought the situation under control, he said.
Meanwhile, a three-member probe body led by Sahidul Islam Chowdhury, Additional Deputy Commissioner (General), has been formed to investigate into the incident and it has been also asked to submit the report within seven working days.
The others members are Additional District Magistrate Sandwip Kumar Shah and Jaintapur Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Mourin Karim, said the committee chief.
