Tongi: The Biswa Ijtema of the Maulana Zubair Ahmed faction of the Tabligh Jamaat is scheduled to be held in two phases in January next year. The first phase is set for January 8 to 10, and the second will follow from January 15 to 17 at the Ijtema ground located on the banks of the Turag River in Tongi.
According to United News of Bangladesh, there has yet to be a final decision regarding the schedule or venue for the followers of Maulana Syed Wasiful Islam, commonly referred to as the Saad faction. Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed revealed this information on Thursday while speaking to reporters after a meeting with leaders of the Saad faction at the Secretariat.
Efforts to reach a consensus on the annual gathering have been ongoing, with the government previously engaging in discussions with both factions. Salahuddin noted that while both groups desire access to the Ijtema ground, disagreements persist over its usage.
The minister referenced a government decision from 2025, stipulating that the Saad faction would not conduct its Ijtema at the Tongi venue starting next year. This decision was based on an understanding that the Zubair faction would utilize the venue for the final time, while the Saad faction would arrange its gathering elsewhere. However, the Saad faction expressed its disagreement with this arrangement during the meeting with the government on Thursday.
Proposals from the Saad faction included holding their Ijtema after the two-phase event organized by the Zubair faction, with a reasonable interval and before the onset of Ramadan. Another suggestion was to conduct a one-phase Ijtema in late November, prior to the January events.
The government plans to further discuss these proposals with the Zubair faction, along with law enforcement and intelligence agencies, before making a final decision, according to Salahuddin. He emphasized that maintaining peace and order, preventing any clashes, is the government's top priority, acknowledging that past conflicts between the two factions have resulted in casualties.
Salahuddin mentioned that the Zubair faction had suggested the Saad faction use a different venue for its gathering, assuring government support for such an arrangement. However, the Saad faction did not agree to this proposal.
The minister highlighted that the Biswa Ijtema had traditionally been held in two phases even before the split within the Tabligh Jamaat, primarily due to the large attendance. He urged both factions to seek reconciliation and strive for mutual understanding.
When questioned about Maulana Saad's potential attendance at the Ijtema in Bangladesh this year, Salahuddin stated that the issue would be managed by the Ministry of Religious Affairs.