Saad followers demand early announcement of Bishwa Ijtema dates

Followers of Maulana Saad Kandhlawi have demanded an early announcement of the dates for Bishwa Ijtema, an end to propaganda and provocative statements, and a halt to one-sided political interference in Tabligh Jamaat.

Their four-point demands also include judicial investigations into all killings to ensure justice and an immediate, fair division of Kakrail Mosque and the Ijtema ground.

The demands were announced at a press conference held at the Tafazzal Hossain Manik Mia Hall of the National Press Club in Dhaka on Monday morning.

Organised under the banner of “Eminent Ulama and Civil Society of Tabligh Jamaat Bangladesh”, the press conference called for the announcement of dates for the mainstream Bishwa Ijtema and a resolution to the ongoing crisis within the organisation.

Mohammad Nazim Uddin Bhuiyan, a teacher in the Department of Accounting at Dhaka University, read out the written statement.

The statement said the mainstream Tabligh Jamaat Bangladesh had been organising Bishwa Ijtema in Tongi for nearly 60 years. However, internal disputes had led to an increase in provocative statements and controversies surrounding the gathering over the past six to seven years.

It warned that continued disputes could further weaken the international appeal of Bishwa Ijtema, raising serious concerns for Bangladesh and other stakeholders.

The statement also alleged that controversial remarks, accusations and misinformation about Maulana Saad Kandhlawi, the emir of the global Tabligh Jamaat, were being spread at religious gatherings, from mosque pulpits and in other forums.

It called on Islamic scholars to play a neutral role in resolving the division within the organisation, saying all parties should work towards a peaceful solution instead of making provocative statements or exerting one-sided pressure on the government.

In response to a question, Mufti Shafiullah Makki, principal of Markazus Suffah Al Islamia Bangladesh, alleged that followers of Zubair had obstructed attempts by Saad's followers to organise Bishwa Ijtema and were issuing public threats ahead of this year's gathering. He also alleged that a third group was politicising the issue.

Asked to identify the third group, Rezaul Karim, a former official of the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation, alleged that a section of Hefazat-e-Islam was involved. He also claimed that individuals involved in recent press conferences and provocative statements had political affiliations.

Those present at the press conference included Maulana Golam Mustafa, senior lecturer at Markazul Ulum Ash Shariah in Savar; Maulana Abdul Ahad, principal of Moinul Islam Madrasa in Vatara; retired Dhaka University professor Manjurul Haque; Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology civil engineering professor Shafiul Bari; Dhaka University Botany Department chairman Professor Ashfaq; and Pharmacy Department chairman Professor Khaled, among others.

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