Md Joynal Abedin Khan :
A devotee was reportedly killed and over 300 Musallies were injured in a series of clashes between two factions of Tabligh Jamaat on the Ijtema venue, on the bank of the Turag River, on the outskirt of the capital on Saturday morning.
The deceased was identified as Ismail Hossain, 65, from Munshiganj district, said Tongi (West) Police Station’s Officer-in-Charge Emdadul Haque.
The Musallies also vandalized about 50 to 70 vehicles and at least 40 motorcycles during the clash.
Thousands of people have been walking by Airport Road in Dhaka to reach their destinations due to a huge traffic congestion following a clash between two factions of Tabligh Jamaat.
Many passengers of international and domestic flights were seen walking with luggage at Farmgate, Mohakhali and Banani areas, our staff correspondent reports from the spot around on Saturday at 12:45pm. Some passengers also failed to board on flights although most off planes started journey late for passengers scarcity.
Tongi Ahsan Ullah Master Health Complex physician Dr Monira Begum said around 150 people received treatment at the hospital and more people are being admitted. Of them, 50 people, who were severely injured, have been transferred to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH), Kurmitola Hospital and other hospitals.
Moslema Akter, a staff of Ahsania Mission Cancer and General Hospital, nearby of the spot, told The New Nation on Saturday evening, “A total of 15 patients were given primary treatment.”
Supporters of Indian preacher Maulana Saad Kandhalvi and Maulana Jubaer engaged in sporadic clashes, chases and counter-chases for several hours since morning, said OC Emdadul.
The trouble mongers also vandalized a number of cars and motorcycles parked in the ijtema ground, he said.
The clash broke out around 8:am when the supporters of Saad Kandhalvi tried to enter the Bishwa Ijtema premises where the supporters of another Indian Tabligh Jamaat leader Maulana Jubair Hassan took position.
At one stage, the supporters of Maulana Saad broke open the main gate of the Ijtema ground and entered the ground.
Sporadic clashes took place between the two groups, leaving Ismail dead on the spot and scores of people injured.
Locals said, around 10:00am on Saturday, the followers of Maulana Saad gathered outside the ground and started pelting stones and pebbles at supporters of Jubaer, resulting in sporadic clashes.
During chases and counter-chases, more than two hundred devotees got injured, and most of them suffered head injuries.
A follower of Maulana Saad, on condition of anonymity, said, “We had announced a ‘Jor Ijtema’ (a gathering of devotees before the Bishwa Ijtema) between November 30 and December 4, as it is a tradition we have been doing every year.
“However, as thousands of devotees tried to enter the Ijtema ground, they were denied entry by supporters of Maulana Jubaer. Madrasa students favouring Maulana Jubaer took positions inside the venue with sticks.”
The devotees added that the clashes resulted in a tense situation in the area.
On the other hand, Maulana Shariful Islam, who is a supporter of Maulana Juaber, said, “Both factions created a stalemate centering the Jor Ijtema, which was to be held at the Ijtema ground.
Police officials of Gazipur Metropolitan Police (GMP) and members of Rapid Action Battalion went to the spot around 3:00pm and drove out all the people from there, the OC said.
Gazipur Metropolitan Traffic Police (South Zone) Senior Assistant Commissioner Thoai Aung Prue Marma said “Thousands of Muslim devotees have taken up position on the Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway, resulting in a huge tailback for three hours.”
Meanwhile, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said that the schedule of Bishwa Ijtema will be announced after National Elections while supporters Maulana of fixed the date from January 11 to 13 next year and Jubayer group’s schedule was January 18 to 20.
A high powered investigation committee will be formed to probe the incident, the Minister said.
The law enforcing agencies will guard the Ijtema venue till further decision in this regard, he said.
Saad’s group’s delagtion team led by Wasifur Islam and Ibrahim Doula and Jubayer’s groups’ delegation team led by Ashraf Ali and Abdul Kuddus, Maulana Farid Uddin Masud took part in the meeting with the Minister in the Secretariat on Saturday afternoon
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dr Javed Patwari, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) Director General Benazir Ahmed, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia and other high officials of different Ministries, were also present, in the meeting.
In a press conference, Tabligh activist Advocate Md Yunus Molla said “a certain quarter inside the government” is disrupting Tabligh’s activities in Bangladesh.
He said, “Tabligh Jamaat is the most influential non-political religious entity operating under the guidance of Delhi’s Nizamuddin Dargah.
“Personalities like Maulana Md Jobayer, Maulana Rabiul, Maulana Omar Faruq, Maulana Faruq and Maulana Md Hossain have established their dominance on the Kakrail Mosque and on the Ijtema ground in Tongi.
“These people are using young madrasa students to serve their own ends, and are behind the past occurrences of violence and clashes at the Kakrail Mosque.”
On November 28, the supporters of Maulana Jubayer had taken position at the Ijtema ground since the night. after two days, they shut down all entries of the ground and prevented devotees from attending the Juma prayer there.
Earlier on November 27, the followers of Indian preacher Saad Kandhalvi sought Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s intervention for organizing the Biswa Ijtema in the first week of January 2019.
Tabligh Jamaat, known as a non-political global religious movement, came into being in 1927 in India. Moulana Ilyas Kandhalvi founded the religious movement, which has an estimated 70 to 80 million followers in more than 150 countries, the majority of whom are based in South Asia.
Moslema Akter, a staff of Ahsania Mission Cancer and General Hospital, nearby of the spot, told The New Nation on Saturday evening, “A total of 15 patients were given primary treatment.”
Supporters of Indian preacher Maulana Saad Kandhalvi and Maulana Jubaer engaged in sporadic clashes, chases and counter-chases for several hours since morning, said OC Emdadul.
The trouble mongers also vandalized a number of cars and motorcycles parked in the ijtema ground, he said.
The clash broke out around 8:am when the supporters of Saad Kandhalvi tried to enter the Bishwa Ijtema premises where the supporters of another Indian Tabligh Jamaat leader Maulana Jubair Hassan took position.
At one stage, the supporters of Maulana Saad broke open the main gate of the Ijtema ground and entered the ground.
Sporadic clashes took place between the two groups, leaving Ismail dead on the spot and scores of people injured.
Locals said, around 10:00am on Saturday, the followers of Maulana Saad gathered outside the ground and started pelting stones and pebbles at supporters of Jubaer, resulting in sporadic clashes.
During chases and counter-chases, more than two hundred devotees got injured, and most of them suffered head injuries.
A follower of Maulana Saad, on condition of anonymity, said, “We had announced a ‘Jor Ijtema’ (a gathering of devotees before the Bishwa Ijtema) between November 30 and December 4, as it is a tradition we have been doing every year.
“However, as thousands of devotees tried to enter the Ijtema ground, they were denied entry by supporters of Maulana Jubaer. Madrasa students favouring Maulana Jubaer took positions inside the venue with sticks.”
The devotees added that the clashes resulted in a tense situation in the area.
On the other hand, Maulana Shariful Islam, who is a supporter of Maulana Juaber, said, “Both factions created a stalemate centering the Jor Ijtema, which was to be held at the Ijtema ground.
Police officials of Gazipur Metropolitan Police (GMP) and members of Rapid Action Battalion went to the spot around 3:00pm and drove out all the people from there, the OC said.
Gazipur Metropolitan Traffic Police (South Zone) Senior Assistant Commissioner Thoai Aung Prue Marma said “Thousands of Muslim devotees have taken up position on the Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway, resulting in a huge tailback for three hours.”
Meanwhile, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said that the schedule of Bishwa Ijtema will be announced after National Elections while supporters Maulana of fixed the date from January 11 to 13 next year and Jubayer group’s schedule was January 18 to 20.
A high powered investigation committee will be formed to probe the incident, the Minister said.
The law enforcing agencies will guard the Ijtema venue till further decision in this regard, he said.
Saad’s group’s delagtion team led by Wasifur Islam and Ibrahim Doula and Jubayer’s groups’ delegation team led by Ashraf Ali and Abdul Kuddus, Maulana Farid Uddin Masud took part in the meeting with the Minister in the Secretariat on Saturday afternoon
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dr Javed Patwari, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) Director General Benazir Ahmed, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia and other high officials of different Ministries, were also present, in the meeting.
In a press conference, Tabligh activist Advocate Md Yunus Molla said “a certain quarter inside the government” is disrupting Tabligh’s activities in Bangladesh.
He said, “Tabligh Jamaat is the most influential non-political religious entity operating under the guidance of Delhi’s Nizamuddin Dargah.
“Personalities like Maulana Md Jobayer, Maulana Rabiul, Maulana Omar Faruq, Maulana Faruq and Maulana Md Hossain have established their dominance on the Kakrail Mosque and on the Ijtema ground in Tongi.
“These people are using young madrasa students to serve their own ends, and are behind the past occurrences of violence and clashes at the Kakrail Mosque.”
On November 28, the supporters of Maulana Jubayer had taken position at the Ijtema ground since the night. after two days, they shut down all entries of the ground and prevented devotees from attending the Juma prayer there.
Earlier on November 27, the followers of Indian preacher Saad Kandhalvi sought Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s intervention for organizing the Biswa Ijtema in the first week of January 2019.
Tabligh Jamaat, known as a non-political global religious movement, came into being in 1927 in India. Moulana Ilyas Kandhalvi founded the religious movement, which has an estimated 70 to 80 million followers in more than 150 countries, the majority of whom are based in South Asia.
