In Bangladesh, two people were killed and over 100 injured in a violent clash between two groups over the control of Biswa Ijtema ground in Tongi Gazipur today. The clash erupted between the followers of Tablighi Jamaat’s Maulana Zubayer Ahmed and supporters of Maulana Saad Kandhalvi of India over occupying the Bishwa Ijtema field in Tongi around 3:00 am, confirmed Deputy Commissioner of Gazipur Metropolitan Police Altutmish. Injured people were rescued and taken to various local and Dhaka hospitals.
Authorities have tightened security in and around the Biswa Ijtema ground in Tongi to prevent any untoward incidents. A large contingent of the Army, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), and other forces, along with regular police, have been patrolling the area, reports United News of Bangladesh (UNB).
According to a statement from the BGB headquarters, four platoons have been deployed in the area. Despite the heavy security, a tense atmosphere persists there.
Earlier on November 5, Maulana Zubayer Ahmed faction held a Islamic Conference at Dhaka’s historic Suhrawardy Udyan with the announcement of a nine-point demand, including prevention of Saad Kandhalvi’s entry into Bangladesh. Thousands of people, mainly madrasah teachers and students, from across Bangladesh had gathered at the venue where the Islamic scholars announced their nine-point demand to the government via loudspeaker.
However, the Bangladesh government permitted the Saad group to host the first phase, but the opposing faction has been reluctant to accept the decision. Tensions between the two groups have been brewing ever since.
Muhammad Saad Kandhlawi is an Indian Muslim scholar and preacher. He is the great-grandson of the Tablighi Jamaat founder Muhammad Ilyas Kandhlawi. He heads the Nizamuddin faction of the Tablighi Jamaat.
Tablighi Jamaat has been banned in Iran, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan, Russia and Saudi Arabia. In some Central Asian countries such as Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan, where its puritanical preachings are viewed as extremist.