Home Adviser Jahangir Alam Chowdhury stated that there will be no mercy for those involved in the killings of Muslim devotees at the Bishwa Ijtema ground early on Wednesday.
"There will be no mercy for those involved in the killings of Muslim devotees at the Bishwa Ijtema ground early. They won't be spared in any way. Real culprits will be brought under trial," he said while talking to the media after separate meetings with the two factions of Tabligh Jamaat - followers of Maulana Zubair and Maulana Saad - at the Home Ministry on Wednesday.
At the same briefing, Secretary General of Khelafat Majlish Mamunul Haque, also a follower of the Tabligh faction loyal to Maulana Zubair, termed the Maulana Saad faction of Tabligh Jamaat as a terrorist outfit and demanded a ban on their activities.
While the Home Adviser said that four people had been killed, Gazipur Metropolitan Police told the media that three deaths had been confirmed so far from the clash between Maulana Zubair's and Maulana Saad Kandhalvi's supporters over control of the Ijtema ground in Tongi, Gazipur.
In light of the situation, the Home Adviser told the press that a case would be filed, and the perpetrators would be brought to justice under the law. He assured that the government will take steps if there's any need for assistance with the injured people's treatment.
In response to a query about whether Saad's supporters would be allowed to participate in the Bishwa Ijtema, the adviser responded that if the two factions could discuss and resolve the matter, Saad's followers would be allowed to participate in the Ijtema. The government had not cancelled the Ijtema date and urged both sides to engage in dialogue, he added.
Khelafat Majlish Secretary General Mamunul said, "The supporters of Zubair do not want any chaos. Many termed it as a clash between the two factions. But it's not. Rather, the Saad-backed faction has inflicted casualties on us. Those involved in this murder should be arrested by Wednesday." Due to the attack, four have sacrificed their lives and many others have been injured, he said.
Responding to a question, Mamunul said, "The Ijtema of the Zubair followers will definitely be held. But there is no scope for Ijtema of the Saad followers." In reply to a query about whether the long march from the bank of Turag in Tongi will be held, Mamunul said, "The conference of the clerics is going on in Kakrail. The decision can be informed after going there and discussing it."
Earlier, representative of Maulana Saad faction Reza Arif, who represented the faction in the meeting, told reporters, "I request all my fellow devotees to leave the ground." Reza said that the advisers of the interim government had requested them to vacate the ground to prevent further tension between the two factions.
Urging followers of Maulana Saad faction to immediately begin leaving the area, assuring them that law enforcement agencies deployed on-site would assist in ensuring their safety and security, Reza Arif said, "Considering the request from advisers of the interim government, we have decided to leave the ground so that no more problems are created." Reza also expressed hope that devotees aligned with the Maulana Zubair faction would also leave the Ijtema ground to avoid further conflict, emphasising the need for unity for the sake of religion and the country.
Expressing sorrow over the fatalities, he said, "There will be all-out efforts to ensure such incidents do not occur again in the future."
At least four people were killed and another 50 injured in a clash between the two factions over the control of Biswa Ijtema ground in Gazipur's Tongi upazila early today. The clash erupted between the followers of Maulana Zubair and Maulana Saad Kandhalvi on Ijtema ground around 3:00am, said police.
