A fight between two factions of Tablighi Jamaat over possession of Biswa Ijtema ground in Gazipur’s Tongi upazila early on 18th December resulted in at least four fatalities and fifty injuries. Followers of Maulana Zobayer and Maulana Saad Kandhalvi reportedly clashed repeatedly on Ijtema ground at around 3:00 am, resulting in casualties.
Two of the deceased were identified as 60-year-old Belal from Beraid in the Dakshin Khan region of Dhaka, and 70-year-old Bachchu Mia from the hamlet of Egarasindur in Kishoreganj’s Pakundia upazila. The third victim was identified as 65-year-old Taizul Islam from Bogra. According to local accounts, Saad’s supporters were accessing the stadium from the west bank of the Turag River via several routes, including Kamarpara Bridge, when Zobayer’s adherents, who were already on the Ijtema site, threw brick chips at them.
The confrontation was started by retaliation from Saad supporters. According to Habibullah Raihan, media coordinator for Shurai Nejam, the first phase organizer for Tabligh Jamaat Bangladesh (the Zobayer faction), Zobayer received a letter from the home ministry. “In the letter, it was informed that the home adviser will sit with us this noon and a decision will be finalised about the Biswa Ijtema,” he informed. However, in a video message, Saad supporter Muaz bin Noor announced, “We are now in control of the Ijtema maidan. One of our brothers was martyred in the attack by Zobayer’s followers.”
According to hospital sources, at least 35 injured people were sent to Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Furthermore, four Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) platoons have been deployed to keep the region law and orderly. Meanwhile, Lieutenant General (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, the home affairs adviser, warned that those responsible for the killings at the Ijtema ground will be penalised. He declared, “There is no scope to spare the individuals involved in the murders. The perpetrators will be brought under the law following a case.” He met separately with the two Tablighi Jamaat factions at the ministry.
Three persons were killed in conflicts, based on medical and police sources. According to Gazipur Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner (Tongi division) NM Nasiruddin, they had confirmed around three deaths as of 2:00 pm. Maulana Mamunul Haque, the secretary general of the Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish, asserted that the deaths were not the result of an altercation but rather of an attack by Saad followers, claiming that there were four fatalities. The Hefajat leader’s story was subsequently verified by the home affairs adviser.
A backer of Maulana Zubair’s Tabligh group, Mamunul Haque, secretary general of Khelafat Majlish, called the Maulana Saad wing of Tabligh Jamaat a terrorist organization and pressed for a ban on their activities. “The supporters of Zubair do not want any chaos. Many termed it as a clash between the two factions. But it’s not. Rather, the Saad-backed faction has inflicted casualties on us. Those involved in this murder should be arrested by today,” he voiced and added, “Due to the attack, four have sacrificed their lives and many others have been injured.” Mamunul Haque stated, “The Ijtema of the Zubair followers will definitely be held. But there is no scope for Ijtema of the Saad followers,” in response to a query.
After the meeting between his faction and the five advisers of the interim government, Reza Arif, a spokesperson of the Maulana Saad faction, also addressed reporters. “I request all my fellow devotees to leave the ground,” he appealed. He claimed that in order to avoid further hostilities between the two factions, the advisers of the interim government had asked them to leave the area.
“We have decided to vacate the field to avoid any further issues. We have always followed the government’s instructions in the past, and we will respect the government’s decision now as well. We will go our separate ways, and law enforcement will assist us in passing through Kamarpara,” he mentioned and highlighted, “We sincerely regret the incident. As Muslims and citizens of this country, we acknowledge that what happened was wrong. Fighting between Muslims is completely unacceptable. We apologize sincerely for this.”
