Crime & Justice

Those involved in Ijtema ground deaths won't be spared: home adviser

Home Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said that the government will take steps if there's any need of assistance for the injured people's treatment.

Replying to a query, he also said that those who are involved with the killings must be brought to book.

"They won't be spared in any way. Real culprits will be brought under trial," he said.

He came up with the comments while briefing the journalists at the Secretariat after separate meetings between seven advisers and the two factions of Tabligh Jamaat today.

At the same briefing, Mamunul Haque, secretary general of Khelafat Majlish and 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.

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 today."

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 the 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, Reza Arif, a representative of the Maulana Saad faction, also spoke to reporters after their faction's meeting with the home adviser.

"I request all my fellow devotees to leave the ground," he said.

Reza said that the advisers of the interim government had requested them to vacate the ground to prevent further tension between the two factions.

"Considering the request [from advisers of the interim government], we have decided to leave the ground so that no more problems are created," he said.

Reza urged followers of the 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 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.

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Those involved in Ijtema ground deaths won't be spared: home adviser

Home Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said that the government will take steps if there's any need of assistance for the injured people's treatment.

Replying to a query, he also said that those who are involved with the killings must be brought to book.

"They won't be spared in any way. Real culprits will be brought under trial," he said.

He came up with the comments while briefing the journalists at the Secretariat after separate meetings between seven advisers and the two factions of Tabligh Jamaat today.

At the same briefing, Mamunul Haque, secretary general of Khelafat Majlish and 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.

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 today."

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 the 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, Reza Arif, a representative of the Maulana Saad faction, also spoke to reporters after their faction's meeting with the home adviser.

"I request all my fellow devotees to leave the ground," he said.

Reza said that the advisers of the interim government had requested them to vacate the ground to prevent further tension between the two factions.

"Considering the request [from advisers of the interim government], we have decided to leave the ground so that no more problems are created," he said.

Reza urged followers of the 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 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.

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