At least four people have been killed, and 40–50 others injured in a clash over control of Biswa Ijtema grounds in Tongi, a township in Gazipur, Bangladesh. The incident occurred on December 18 between two factions of Tablighi Jamaat, namely the followers of Maulana Jubair and those of Maulana Saad Kandhalvi.
According to media reports from Tongi, thousands of followers of Tabhligi Jamaat participated in a Jor Ijtema organised under the supervision of Maulana Jubair’s followers from November 29 to December 3. Subsequently, senior leaders of the organising committee aligned with Maulana Saad Kandhalvi from India sought permission to hold the second phase of the Jor Ijtema from December 20 to 24. However, the government’s high-level decision denied them this permission.
Over the past few days, Maulana Saad Kandhalvi’s faction repeatedly appealed to the government as well as to Maulana Jubair’s faction for allowing them to conduct the second-phase Jor Ijtema. Senior leaders of Maulana Kandhalvi’s organising committee met with the Deputy Police Commissioner of Gazipur Metropolitan Police on December 19. After the discussion, they were returning to the World Ijtema Mosque via the western side of the grounds. As their car reached the Munnu Gate area of Tongi, supporters of Maulana Jubair, armed with sticks, allegedly vandalised their vehicle on the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway. Five individuals from Saad’s group, who were inside the car, sustained injuries. Following the incident, tensions escalated between the two groups
Then, Maulana Saad’s followers gathered at the Ijtema Mosque, prompting Maulana Jubair’s supporters to guard the site’s entrances overnight. The clash erupted at dawn when Maulana Saad’s followers attempted to enter the grounds, resulting in injuries to dozens.
Hospital authorities confirmed 39 injuries, with 11 critically wounded individuals transferred to Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Statements from both factions revealed three confirmed deaths, underscoring the severity of the violence.
