Two Tablighi Jamaat groups sue each other ahead of Bishwa Ijtema
The first phase of the Bishwa Ijtema, organised by Zubair followers, will be held from 31 January to 2 February next year and the second phase, organised by Saad followers, will be held from 7 to 9 February
Tablighi Jamaat's two groups – the followers of Mohammed Zubair, imam of Kakrail Mosque, and the followers of Delhi's Muhammad Saad Kandhalvi, the great-grandson of the Tablighi Jamaat founder Muhammad Ilyas Kandhlawi – have filed cases against each other as tensions flared between them ahead of the Bishwa Ijtema.
As per the government decision, the first phase of the Bishwa Ijtema, organised by Zubair followers, will be held from 31 January to 2 February next year and the second phase, organised by Saad followers, will be held from 7 to 9 February.
According to media coordinators of the two groups, there is an ongoing dispute over whether Saad's followers will be able to hold a 'Jor Ijtema' at the Ijtema ground from 20 to 24 December.
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Confirming the filing of the cases, Tongi West Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Iskander Habibur Rahman said legal actions will be taken as per the instructions of higher-ups.
On behalf of the Zubair faction, who identify themselves as 'Shuraye Nizam', Mohammad Hossain filed a case yesterday (15 December) with Tongi West Police Station against 15 people including Saad faction's top cleric Syed Wasiful Islam.
The case alleges that Saad followers want to organise a 'Jor Ijtema' on the Ijtema ground from 20 December, defying the government's decision.
Earlier on 13 December, on behalf of Saad's followers, Md Shihab Uddin filed a case with Tongi West Police Station over an attack on Saad followers on 12 December. The case names 34 people including top clerics of Shuraye Nizam and 30-40 other unidentified people.
On 12 December, five of Maulana Saad's followers were attacked in their vehicle on the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway in Tongi.
Eyewitnesses said more than 500 followers of Zubair 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.
