The Tabligh Jamaat faction loyal to Maulana Mohammed Saad Kandhalvi yesterday demanded the government allow the followers of Delhi's Nizamuddin Markaz to hold the first phase of Biswa Ijtema next year.

Speaking at a press conference at the Jatiya Press Club, leaders of the faction also demanded the Kakrail Markaz, the main centre of Tabligh Jamaat in Bangladesh, be handed over to the followers of the Nizammudin Markaz.

"It will be a big mistake if anyone tries to deny us our due rights and property," said Muhammad Azimuddin, imam of Kakrail Mosque.

He warned that if such attempts are made, lakhs of Saad Kandhalvi's followers will gather at the Kakrail Markaz from across the country, and no one will have the strength to stop that inflow of the followers.

"We will not hesitate to realise our rights in a very disciplined manner. We will do whatever necessary to run our Markaz following the correct rules in a timely manner," Azimuddin said while reading out a written statement.

The faction demanded ensuring the presence of Indian Tabligh Jamaat leader Saad Kandhalvi at the Biswa Ijtema to restore its tradition.

The first phase of next year's Biswa Ijtema, an Islamic congregation, is set to be held from January 31 to February 2, followed by the second phase from February 7 to 9.

The pro-Saad faction also demanded making arrangements for running the Kakrail Markaz by both the Tabligh Jamaat factions, and banning the participation of madrasa students in different "violent" programmes over the Tabligh issue.

Azimuddin alleged that followers of Maulana Zubairul Hasan are preparing to create an unstable situation by showing unwillingness to hand over the Kakrail Markaz to the followers of Maulana Saad after drawing inspiration from an announcement made at Suhrawardy Udyan on November 5.

"This is also in breach of the related government rules," he added.

Azimuddin said the National Qawmi Madrasa Education Board will hold an international grand conference titled "Way for the unity of the Muslim Ummah" at the capital's Suhrawardi Udyan on December 7.

He said renowned Islamic scholars from Mecca and Madina of Saudi Arabia, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, South Africa, Morocco, Tunisia, Turkey, Egypt, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, United States, and England will join the event.

At the conference, the Islamic scholars will present an outline for addressing the ongoing crisis of Tabligh Jamaat and discuss the necessity of unity among the Muslim Ummah.

Azimuddin said those who want to keep the ongoing Tabligh crisis alive are not only the enemy of Tabligh but also of the country, its people and Islam.