Govt orders Tongi’s Ijtema grounds to be cleared after Tabligh clash

At least three people have been killed and several others injured in a clash between two Tablighi Jamaat factions

The authorities have decided to clear the Ijtema grounds in Gazipur’s Tongi after casualties during a clash between two factions of the Tablighi Jamaat.

The decision was announced after a meeting between the Tabligh supporters of Indian preacher Saad Kandhlawi in the presence of Home Advisor Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury on Wednesday.

The home affairs advisor then met with supporters of senior cleric Zubair Ahmed at the same. IGP Baharul Alam and senior law-enforcing officials also attended the meeting.

Reza Arif, a representative for the Saad supporters, said after the first meeting: “At the request of the home advisor, we have decided to clear the grounds. The casualties are truly unfortunate. We are clearing the grounds.”

He said: “In the past, we have abided by all the government’s requests. We will do so again. We have already told all our gathered comrades to leave the grounds. The law enforcers are cooperating with us.”

“The decision has been taken for the government to take control of the grounds. No one will occupy them for now.”

Addressing Zubair’s supporters, Reza said: “We appeal to them – we have accepted the government’s decision. In the interests of Islam and the interests of the country, they should not cause any more trouble. They should not take to the streets and they should not spread provocative statements.”

A clash between the followers of Zubair and Saad broke out 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.

After the meeting at the home ministry, veteran Saad follower Reza said that the identities of the victims was not important. “Rather, it is more important that Allah pardons them all. It’s crucial that everyone can leave easily and no problem arises,” he said.

“As Muslims and citizens of the country we apologise for what has happened. This was wrong. Muslims should not fight among themselves. Tabligh brethren shouldn’t be fighting among themselves either. We’ll try to ensure that these kinds of incidents do not occur in the future.”

BAN ON GATHERINGS IN TONGI

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police have issued a ban on gatherings and rallies in Tongi and the surrounding area after the Ijtema grounds clash.

A public announcement on the decision was issued on Wednesday afternoon.

“In order to maintain public order in response to a recent situation, any kind of gathering, rally, procession, march, protest, etc has been banned in the Kamarpara, Abdullahpur, Uttara Sector-10 and areas surrounding the southwest side of the Turag River from 2pm on Wednesday until further notice,” it said.