BGB deployed at Tongi Ijtema grounds after Tabligh factions clash

At least three people have been killed in the violence

Four platoons of the Border Guard Bangladesh, or BGB, have been deployed in Gazipur Tongi after three people were killed in a clash between two Tablighi Jamaat factions.

A statement from the BGB Headquarters made the announcement on Wednesday morning. Each platoon has an average of 30 BGB personnel.

The clash between the Tablighi Jamaat followers of senior cleric Zubair Ahmed and Indian preacher Saad Kandhlawi took place around 3am on Wednesday over the occupation of the Bishwa Ijtema field on the banks of the Turag River in Tongi.

At least three people were killed and several others suffered injuries, said Md Nazmul Karim Khan, Gazipur police commissioner.

Habib Iskandar, officer-in-charge of Tongi West Police Station, said the followers of Maulana Zubair Ahmed were staying at the Ijtema ground on Tuesday. Later, the followers of Maulana Saad Kandhalvi continued to enter the Ijtema ground from the west bank of the Turag River after arriving along different routes, including the Kamarpara Bridge.

At that time, Zubair's followers started throwing brickbats from inside the field. Saad's followers retaliated.

At one stage, the Saad supporters entered the grounds and a large-scale clash broke out between the two sides. Upon receiving the news, police and security forces rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control.