Ijtema tensions: Car carrying Saad followers vandalised by Zubayer’s men in Tongi

Tensions flared between two factions of the Tablighi Jamaat just ahead of the Bishwa Ijtema – set to begin on 31 January – after five of Maulana Saad's followers were attacked on their vehicle today (12 December).

The incident took place at 1pm in the Monnu Gate area of Tongi on the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway.

Eyewitnesses said more than 500 followers of Maulana Zubayer had gathered in the Monnu Gate area in front of the Ijtema ground and blocked the highway demanding punishment for Saad's reported support for an attack in 2018, which left one dead and 200 injured.

At the same time, a vehicle carrying top Tablighi clerics from the Indian Maulana Saad's side was passing through.

When the protesters saw the vehicle, they attacked it, leaving five people injured.

Later, the injured, including Maulana Basir, 52, and Maulana Ataur, 54, were rescued and taken to Uttara Modern Medical College Hospital in Dhaka.

Soon after, Saad's followers organised a press conference at the Ijtema Maidan and denounced the attack.

Md Sayem, the media coordinator of Saad's faction, said, "We were returning to Tongi after exchanging views with the Gazipur deputy commissioner regarding the transfer of the Ijtema Maidan. At that time, the supporters of Zubair attacked our car on Tongi's Station Road and vandalised it, injuring five people. The condition of two is critical."

Meanwhile, Habibullah Raihan, media coordinator for Zubayer's faction, said the issue started when one of Saad's supporters said there would be no Ijtema in the country if Saad was not allowed to attend.

"To protest against this provocative statement [and the death in the 2018 clash], Tablighi supporters, senior students of the madrasa and ordinary people took a position at the Tongi intersection today. When the car carrying Saad's supporters arrived, police stopped them and requested not to pass. They disobeyed and drove the car towards our protesters. So, the attack was in self-defence," he said. 

Gazipur Metropolitan Police's Additional Deputy Commissioner (Crime-South) Md Hafizul Islam said Zubayer's followers held a sit-in on the highway for an hour and demanded justice for the attack by Saad supporters in 2018. 

At that time, they vandalised a private car of Saad's followers. He also said no party had filed a complaint in this regard yet. "Legal action will be taken if a complaint is filed."