Tabligh demo disrupts flight schedule at Shahjalal airport

At least 18 international and domestic flights have been disrupted on Wednesday at Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka due to demonstration of a section of Tabligh-Jamaat men over the arrival of a top religious scholar Maulana Saad Kandolvi from India to attend the Biswa Ijtema.

Confirming the news, Shakil Meraj, Biman Bangladesh Airlines General Manager (Public Relation) told Jago News that the international and domestic flights were delayed for 30 minutes to one hour due to unprecedented traffic jam.

Two Biman flights scheduled to fly for Jeddah and Muscat at 7:30pm and 7:40pm were delayed for more than an hour as captain, crews and most of the passengers of the two international flights could not reach the airport on time due to terrific congestion, he added.

According to sources, Leaders and activists of a section of Tabligh-Jamaat men have been protesting the leadership of Maulana Saad in the Ijtema here over his controversial remarks in different times. 

The 53rd Biswa Ijtema, the second largest congregation of the Muslim community after the holy hajj, will be held in two phases from January 12-14 and January 19-21 on bank of the river Turag amid tight security.