There is no conflict, Ijtema will proceed peacefully: IGP

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Baharul Alam today assured that the 58th Biswa Ijtema will proceed peacefully.

Addressing journalists after inspecting the Ijtema grounds, the IGP stated, "An unfortunate incident took place during this Ijtema, but both sides have shown responsibility. One side will perform from January 31 to February 5 and the other side will perform from February 14 to 16. There is no conflict or disagreement; both sides will perform the Ijtema peacefully."

Habibullah Rayhan, media co-ordinator of Tabligh Jamaat Bangladesh (Shura-e-Nizam), later confirmed that the one of the factions will hold their first "Akheri Munajat" on February 2, and another one on February 5.

The Saad faction will hold their Akheri Munajat on February 16, confirmed Mohammad Sayem, media co-ordinator of the Saad faction of Tabligh Jamaat. 

The IGP, during his visit, gave further updates on the tightened security measures, saying, "The security system and technology are much better now than the system that was in place when I was the DIG of Dhaka Range in 2006. RAB is still involved in the security work. We are ready to deal with any kind of sabotage or unpleasant incident."

Quoting Maulana Mahfuz, the head of Shura-e-Nizam, he also said that they have 10,000 volunteers who are ready to fulfill their religious responsibility.

Gazipur Metropolitan Police Commissioner Nazmul Karim Khan said, "We have held a coordination meeting with the city corporation, Deputy Commissioner, Roads and Highways Department, Fire Service, Army, and Rab. After the meeting, we completed the overall security arrangements for the Ijtema."

He added that the police will monitor from drones so that they can take quick action if any incident occurs.

"We have divided the security level into five sectors. Every inch of the grounds will be monitored from 16 watchtowers and 335 CCTV cameras. We will keep duty on 35 rooftops and 20 check posts on the ground. We will have 20 mobile parties to ensure that no one can occupy the footpath. We have placed 6,000 uniformed policemen inside the ground," he said.

Notably, at least four people were killed and 50 others injured on December 18 last year in a clash between two factions of Tabligh Jamaat over control of the Ijtema Maidan, a large field in Tongi where thousands of Muslim devotees congregate every year.