Gafargaon (Mymensingh) Correspondent:
The upazila administration has imposed Section 144 at Lamkain Eidgah ground in Panchbagh Union of Gafargaon Upazila of Mymensingh on March 30 and 31 to avoid any untoward incident.
Gafargaon Upazila Nirbahi Officer and Nirbahi Magistrate N. M. Abdullah-al-Mamun issued this order.
The order states that there is extreme tension in the area due to disputes between multiple parties over the performance of Eid prayers. There is a risk of deterioration of law and order and bloody clashes. In such a context, several restrictions have been imposed on the public in the concerned area under Section 144 from 6 pm today, Sunday, March 30 to 6 pm tomorrow, Monday, March 31 (depending on the sighting of the moon).
The order further states that carrying and displaying firearms, carrying sticks or indigenous weapons, bursting fireworks and crackers, using mikes or loud speakers, gatherings of more than five people, meetings and processions will be completely prohibited in the Eidgah area.
The order has been communicated to the concerned including the District Magistrate, Superintendent of Police, Army, OC and the OC of Pagla Police Station has been instructed to disseminate the order in the area and its surroundings.
Locals said that Alemuddin Mufti Maulana Mohammad Ali has been leading the Eid prayers at the century-old Lamkain Eidgah ground for the past 20/21 years. Suddenly, some people in the area want to offer prayers under the leadership of another imam instead of him. This has created a dispute. Tension has been prevailing in the area for some time due to the Imam dispute. The residents of Lamkain were divided into two groups over the Imam who led the Eid prayers, and the conflict between the entire village took an extreme form.
Gafargaon Upazila Nirbahi Officer N. M Abdullah Al Mamun and Pagla Police Station OC Mohammad Ferdous Alam confirmed the truth of the matter.