The Shura-e-Nezam faction of Tablighi Jamaat, who proclaim themselves to be the followers of Mohammed Zubair, on Monday placed a six-point demand, addressing the government ahead of its Ijtema, the annual gathering it hosts on the banks of the Turag River in Tongi each winter.
The demands were announced at a press conference held at the Jatiya Press Club, after it was announced that there may be a change in the timing of the next Ijtema, in view of the security situation surrounding the country鈥檚 parliamentary election, which the interim government has promised in the first half of February.
The Bangladeshi chapter of Tabligh鈥檚 Ijtema is consistently the largest among all its chapters worldwide, in terms of attendance. It has traditionally been held in January, broken down in recent years over two weekends, and even more than that, after it became clear that the cracks within the Tablighi movement were irreconcilable. The presence of the two factions at the same spot often led to violence, including last year in the period leading upto the main event.
Addressing Monday鈥檚 press conference, Kefayetullah Azhari, a key leader of the Shura-e-Nezam group, relayed the government鈥檚 proposal to organise the next Ijtema in March 2026. He also expressed his group鈥檚 consent to the proposal in principle, as long as it is announced ahead of time.
鈥業f the government wants the Ijtema to be organised on its proposed date, the official announcement must be made by December,鈥� Azhari added.
Azhari further stated that the followers of Saad Kandhalwi will not be allowed to hold their congregation on the Tongi Ijtema ground this time. 鈥楢s per the government鈥檚 previous decision, the Saad followers had promised that the last Ijtema would be their final one at the Tongi ground.鈥�
Among the six points, the most important seemed to be that Saad followers not be allowed to organise or attend their Ijtema in Tongi.
The Shura-e-Nezam also called for the declaration of the Tongi Ijtema ground as a temporary key point installation for security purposes, and for easing of visa procedures for their foreign guests.
They also said the perpetrators of the murder on Ijtema grounds, on the eve of last year鈥檚 Ijtema, must be brought to justice swiftly.
Mentioning Tablighi Jamaat as a symbol of global Muslim unity, Kefayetullah said the next Ijtema can be held peacefully and successfully with proper government cooperation and security measures.
Senior members of the Tabligh鈥檚 Shura, Islamic scholars, and administrative representatives were also present at the press conference.
