One killed, over 200 injured in Tablighi Jamaat’s factional clashes

New Delhi, 02 Dec 2018 [Fik/News Sources]: At least one person was killed and over 200 were injured in a series of clashes between two factions of Tablighi Jamaat over establishing dominance at the Bishwa Ijtema grounds on the banks of the Turag River, reported Dhaka Tribune.

The deceased Ismail Mandal, 65, from Munshiganj  came with his son Jahid Hasan to attend the ijtema.

The clash broke out around 8:00am on Saturday when the supporters of Tabligh Jamaat leader top leader of India Moulana Saad  Kandhalvi tried to enter the Ijtema premises where the supporters of  Maulana Moulana Zubair ul Hassan took position since Wednesday, UNB quoted Abdullahpur zone traffic inspector Asad as saying.

At one stage, he said, the supporters of Maulana Saad broke open the main gate of the Ijtema ground and entered the maidan.

“Around 150 people received treatment at the hospital and more people are being admitted,  of them, 25 people who were severely injured, have been transferred to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital, Kurmitola Hospital, and other hospitals,”  said Dr Monira Begum, Tongi Ahsan Ullah Master Health Complex physician.

Supporters of Indian preacher Maulana Saad Kandhalvi, and Maulana Jubayer’s supporters engaged in sporadic clashes, chases, and counter-chases for several hours since morning, said OC Emdadul.

The clashes broke out around 8am when supporters of Saad Kandhalvi tried to enter the Ijtema premises where the supporters of Maulana Zubair had taken up position.

At one stage, the supporters of Maulana Saad broke open the main gate of the Ijtema grounds and swarmed in.

Sporadic clashes took place between the two groups, leaving Ismail dead on the spot and scores of people injured. The Tabligh men hurled brickbats at each other and attacked each other with sticks, said media reports.

Last year the Tablighi Jamaat officially spilt in two groups over the dispute of leadership. One group is led by Maulana Saad Kandhalvi, the great grandson of  Maulana Mohammad Ilyas Kandhali,the founder of Tablghi Jamat  while other group is led Maulana Zubair ul Hassan.

Founded by Maulana Ilyas Kandhalvi in India in 1927, Tablighi Jamaat now has an estimated 70 to 80 million followers in more than 150 countries, majority of whom are based in South Asia.