At least one case has been filed against 29 named and several hundred unnamed people following the death of four people in a violent clash over establishing control over the Ijtema ground at Tongi in Gazipur on Wednesday.
Gazipur Metropolitan Police commissioner Nazmul Karim Khan said that SM Alam Hossain, a supporter of Maulana Zubair, filed the case with the Tongi West Police on Thursday evening.
Officer-in-charge of the Tongi West police Iskandar Habibur Rahman said that no one was arrested till 8:00pm Thursday in this connection.
A clash between two factions of the Tabligh Jamaat, one led by Maulana Muhammad Saad Kandhalvi and the other led by Maulana Zubair broke out over the control of the Ijtema ground at Tongi on Wednesday, causing four deaths and scores of people being injured.
To prevent further clash, the authority imposed Section 144 on the Ijtema ground and within 3km radius of the ground, banning gatherings and asking both groups to vacate the area.
A huge contingent of security personnel had also been deployed in the area, said the local people.
Witnesses, however, said that several hundred followers of Zubair were staying at the Ijtema ground, while Saad supporters left the area, accusing the government of discriminating against them.
Local Tabligh participants, seemingly Maulana Zubair supporters, at Sreepur upazila in Gazipur also held a procession on the road in front of the local police station on Thursday demanding a ban on Saad followers from the Ijtema ground.
Those who were staying at the Ijtema ground despite imposition of Section 144 said that that they were taking care of the belongings of their fellows.
Saad supporter Mohamamd Sayem, while saying that they expected a neutral role from the authorities, alleged that the authorities were favouring the Zubair supporters.
Bishwa Ijtema, a religious congregation at which the highest number of Muslims gather after Hajj, is oragnised annually at Tongi on the outskirts of Dhaka.
Recent years have seen growing rifts between the two clerics鈥擬uhammad Saad Kandhalvi and Maulana Zubair鈥攃ulminating first in a 2018 deadly clash over the control of the Ijtema ground, killing a man and injuring more than 200.
Following the clash, the congregation was organised separately by the two groups.
As per a decision mediated by the then government, the first phase of the Biswa Ijtema, organised by Zubair followers, is scheduled for January 31 to February 2, while the second phase, led by Saad followers, is scheduled for February 7鈥�9.
Traditionally, before the final Ijtema they hold a five-day preparatory gathering.
The Zubair group held their preparatory congregation between November 29 and December 3 this year.
Saad followers tried to enter the Ijtema ground for their preparatory congregation scheduled for December 20鈥�25.
Although the government has permitted the Zubair group to host the first phase, the opposing faction has reportedly been reluctant to accept the decision, causing tension to brew.
On December 15, a case was filed against 15 Saad followers, including the faction鈥檚 main leader in Bangladesh Syed Wasiful Islam over the allegations of attacking their opponent group on December 12.
Their rival group led by Zubair Ahmed鈥檚 follower Mohamamd Hossain, filed the case with the Tongi West police.
Tongi West police officer-in-charge Habibur Rahman said that a Saad supporter also filed a counter case over the incident.
