Rift over Ijtema Field: Tabligh faction threatens march

A faction of Tabligh Jamaat yesterday threatened to march towards Tongi Ijtema Maidan if the government does not lift restrictions on entry into the ground.

The faction led by Maulana Zubair also demanded arrest of their rivals who are loyal to Maulana Saad Kandhalvi.

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An elderly man was killed and more than 200 others were injured as a fierce fight between the two factions virtually turned the Tongi Ijtema Maidan into a battlefield on Saturday.

The two sides faced off over the control of the venue. Commuters were subjected to long tailbacks on Airport Road as the activists marched on the road, hurled brick chips and chased each other causing panic in the area.

The Zubair faction held a rally yesterday in Abdullahpur area and demanded arrest of their rivals.

Also yesterday, Hefajat-e Islam, which backs this faction, held a rally in Chattogram where its Secretary General Junaid Babunagari said followers of Saad were responsible for Saturday's violence.

Hefajat-e Islam yesterday placed a six-point demand to the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina through Chattogram Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mahbubor Rahman.

The demands include arrest of who they said are “the killers and the attackers” immediately. 

Hefajat also held a rally on the premises of Jamiatul Falah Mosque.

Addressing the rally, Babunagari demanded exemplary punishment of “the attackers”.

In another development, the Saad faction on Monday proposed holding Ijtema separately.

A rift developed among Tabligh members over the nomination of Indian Islamic scholar Maulana Saad Kandhalvi as the ameer over a year ago.

The faction led by Maulana Zubair opposed the nomination and even compelled the government to keep Saad away from the last Bishwa Ijtema.  Qawmi madrasa-based Hefajat-e Islam reportedly backs this faction.