Tabligh Jamaat factional feud peaks with litigation

The internal dispute Tabligh Jamaat between supporters of Maulana Saad Kandhalvi and Maulana Zubayer has escalated further ahead of the upcoming Bishwa Ijtema, leading to back-to-back legal actions.  

Supporters of Maulana Saad are planning to hold a five-day ‘Jor’ (preparatory gathering) at the Tongi Ijtema Maidan starting December 20, despite lacking government approval. This move has been strongly opposed by the followers of Maulana Zubayer, intensifying tensions.  

On Sunday (December 15), Mohammad Hossain, a member of the Shura-e-Nezam (Zubayer supporters), filed a case against 15 individuals, including senior clerics from the Saad faction, with Tongi West Police Station. The case alleges violent behaviour during a sit-in protest near the Ijtema grounds.  

The accused in the case include:  Syed Wasiful Islam, Maulana Abdullah Mansur, Maulana Moaz bin Noor, Maulana Zia bin Kasem, Mufti Azimuddin, Mufti Osama Islam, Mufti Syed Anwar Abdullah,

Mufti Shafiullah, Maulana Anas, Haji Bashir Sikder, Mohammad Monir Hossain Tushar alias Haji Monir, 

Engineer Muhibullah, Reza Arif, Ataur Rahman, Advocate Farid.  

Previously, on December 12, Zubayer supporters blocked the Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway, accusing Saad supporters of involvement in the 2018 deaths of two worshippers during an Ijtema clash. Five people were reportedly injured during the recent incident when Saad supporters were crossing Station Road. In response, Saad supporters filed a case against 34 individuals at Tongi West Police Station.  

Officer-in-Charge (OC) Iskandar Habibur Rahman of Tongi West Police Station confirmed that both factions have filed cases, and legal action will follow based on the investigation.  

The Bishwa Ijtema, the second-largest Muslim congregation in the world, is scheduled in two phases—January 31 to February 2, and February 7 to February 9. 

The five-day preparatory ‘jor’ organised by the Zubayer followers, concluded on December 3. However, the Zubayer faction is resisting the Saad faction’s plans to hold another ‘jor’ starting December 20.