Dhaka – A 70-year-old man killed and more than 200 people injured during clashes between two factions of Tablighi Jamat followers in Tongi, Bangladesh on Saturday.
The deceased, Ismail Hossain, of Munshiganj became a victim of Jamat’s disputing factions – which have fought for decades over Jamat’s leadership.
One faction belongs to India-based, Moulana Saad Khandhalwi – grandson of Jamat’s main founder, and the other faction belongs to Moulana Jubayer. Both the factions argue over the fan-following and whose leadership is worthy.
The Jod-Ijtema (Jamat’s indoctrination gathering) by Moulana Saad was about to take place at Tongi grounds at 8am on Saturday, but the place was occupied by Moulana Jubayer’s followers, which infuriated Moulana Saad’s followers to wildly attack the gathering with sticks, brickbats and rods.
The Jamat’s wild followers vandalized cars, buses, bikes, and other modes of transport carrying attendees to the gathering.
General Physician at Ahsanullah Health Complex, Dr. Monira Begum said, “more than 200 people received treatment at the hospital and more people are being admitted. Of them, 25 people who were severely injured, have been transferred to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital, Kurmitola Hospital, and other hospitals.”
Rapid Action Force and Gazipur Metropolitan Police arrived at the Ijtema grounds around 3pm to control the situation.
On the orders of Home Ministry, armored vehicles and water cannons have been deployed at the grounds to avoid any untoward situation.
Meanwhile, Gazipur Metropolitan Traffic Police (South Zone) Senior Assistant Commissioner Thoai Aung Prue Marma told, “Thousands of Muslim devotees took up position on the Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway, resulting in a huge tailback.”
Moulana Saad’s followers attacked the other faction at the Airport Intersection as well, which created long traffic halt on the western side of the busy Airport road.
“Traffic halted on the highway for one-and-a-half hours in the afternoon,” he added.
The Home Ministry has earlier banned both the parties to hold Jod Ijtema until they sort out the conflicts, however the followers of both the factions paid to heed to Ministry’s orders.
