Rafiqul Iskam Biplob from Gazipur

There have been repeated clashes between Maulana Zubair and pro-Saad supporters over the occupation of Tongi's Bishwa Ijtema Maidan. Police have confirmed that at least hundreds of people from both sides have been injured and two Muslims have died in the clashes that have been going on since midnight.

The two deceased are claiming to be brothers from both sides. Gazipur Metropolitan Police (GMP) Deputy Commissioner (DC-Tongi Zone) NM Nasiruddin confirmed the matter. On Wednesday from 3 am, both sides clashed when they tried to take over the Ijtema ground.

Meanwhile, Gazipur Metropolitan Police (GMP) Commissioner Dr. Md. Nazmul Karim Khan has issued a public notice to follow sections 30 and 31 of the General Management Police Act 2018 (GMP) in the three-kilometer area surrounding the Bishwa Ijtema Maidan until further notice to maintain law and order.

The deceased were identified as Bachchu Mia (70) of Egarsindu village in Pakundia upazila of Kishoreganj district and Belal Hossain (60), son of Abdus Samad of Dakshin Khan (Beraid area) of the capital. Among them, Bachchu Mia died after being brought to Tongi Ahsan Ullah Master General Hospital. Belal of Dakshin Khan (Beraid area) of the capital was killed on the way to Dhaka.

The injured are Abdur Rouf (55) of Brown Baria, Mojibur Rahman (58) of Mymensingh, Abdul Hannan (60) of Gazipur, Zahurul Islam (38) of Tongi, Prant (55), Arif (34) of Gopalganj, Faisal (28) of Savar, Ariful Islam (50), Anwar (26), Tariqul (42) of Narsingdi, Ukil Mia (58), Shahed (44) of Chittagong, Khorshed Alam (50) of Keraniganj, Belal (34), Anwar (50) of Narayanganj, Abu Bakkar (59), Anwar (76) of Noakhali Sadar, Forkan Ahmed (35) of Satkhirah. The names of the rest are not known. They are being treated at various hospitals including Tongi Ahsan Ullah Master General Hospital and Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Most of the injured had head injuries.

Maulana Zubair Panthi Tablighi Jamaat (Shuwari Nejam) Media Coordinator Habibullah Raihan said that on Tuesday (December 17), a letter was sent to Maulana Zubair Sahib from the Ministry of Home Affairs. In that letter, it was informed that the Home Affairs Advisor will sit in a meeting with us (Zubair Panthi) on Wednesday (December 18) at 12 noon and a good decision will be informed about the Bishwa Ijtema ground.

At around 3 am, we received news that pro-Saad Muslims from all over the country are staying at Belal Mosque on the western side of the Tongi Ijtema ground. Gathering their new and old friends from different areas, they entered the ground through various roads including Kamar Para Bridge from the western bank of the Turag River, breaking the foreign gate of the ground. At this time, when pro-Zubair Muslims threw bricks and stones from inside the ground, a chase and counter-incident started between the two. At one point, when the Saad supporters entered the field, a clash broke out between the two sides. Two Muslims were killed and hundreds were injured in the clash. Since this incident, a large number of police, RAB and BGB have been deployed in the Ijtema Maidan and the surrounding areas to control the situation.

Syed Wasiful Islam, the elder of the Saad Panthi Tabligh Jamaat, said that their joint Ijtema was supposed to start on December 20 at the Ijtema Maidan in Tongi. Devotees from different parts of the country were coming to the field to prepare for the field and taking positions on the roads around it. Seeing our preparations, the Jobair Panthi Muslims attacked our people. At one point, when the clash started between the people of the two sides, our people entered the Ijtema field. There, another massive clash broke out between the two groups. Those injured in the clash at the Ijtema Maidan have been treated at various hospitals, including Tongi Ahsan Ullah Master General Hospital and Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

Police said that for some time now, there has been tension between the two groups over the joint Ijtema of the followers of Maulana Saad of the Tablighi Jamaat. The followers of Maulana Zubair held a joint Ijtema from November 29 to December 3. Then from December 20, when the followers of Maulana Saad decided to organize a joint Ijtema, Zubair's followers took up positions at the Ijtema Maidan, announcing that they would resist them. From Tuesday (December 17) evening, Zubair's followers set up guards with sticks around the Maidan and at various road intersections to prevent the followers of Saad from entering the Ijtema Maidan.

The public notice mentioned that the public has been banned from entering the Bishwa Ijtema Maidan from 2 pm on Wednesday (December 18). Until further orders, two or more people will not be able to move around, gather or hold any procession within the three-kilometer area around Tongi Bishwa Ijtema Maidan. No weapons, weapons, sticks, explosives or any such substance will be allowed to be carried. No loud speakers or any such device will be allowed to make any loud noise. Appropriate legal action will be taken against those who violate the law. This public notice has been issued by Gazipur Metropolitan Police (GMP) in the public interest.

Tongi West Police Station OC Habib Iskandar said that members of the army, RAB, BGB and other law enforcement agencies have been deployed in the Ijtema Maidan and the surrounding areas since morning. We have been able to confirm the news of the death of two worshippers so far. After the GMP Commissioner issued the public notice at noon, the worshippers have been leaving the ground since 3 pm.