Anwar Hussain of DOT : A man was killed and more than 150 people were injured in a clash between two factions of Tabligh-Jamaat over establishing supremacy on Ijtema ground in Tongi, on the outskirts of Dhaka, yesterday.
Tongi East Police OC Kamal Hossian confirmed that Ismail Mondol, 65, hailing from Rampal union of Munshiganj is the deceased, reports The Daily Star.
The enraged activists also vandalised around 10 to 15 private cars and at least 40 motorcycles during the clash and counter-clashes.
The brawl ensued after Fazr prayer when the followers of Tabligh-Jamaat leader Saad Kandhalvi tried to enter the Ijtema venue where Moulana Jubair Hassan’s supporters took position since Wednesday, police said.
Around 138 people were given treatment at Tongi Ahsan Ullah Master Health Complex. Among them, condition of 26 are stated to be critical, the medical officer said adding that they were referred to different hospitals including Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
Deputy Commissioner of Gazipur Dewan Muhammad Humayan Kabir rushed to the spot around 3:45pm and asked all to vacate the Ijtema ground within half hour.
As of 7:45pm the home minister was holding an emergency meeting immediately to talk over the issue.
Earlier in the day, a section of Tabligh-Jamaat men blocked a single lane of Airport Road for four hours till 3:45 following the clash, resulting in heavy traffic gridlock in the area.
Supporters of top leader of Tabligh Jamaat Maulana Saad Kandhalvi’s and their rivals broke into a chase and counter-chase when they were heading from Airport to Tongi where their rivals had taken position earlier, said officer-in-charge of Biman Bandar Police Station Noor-e-Ajam told The Daily Star.
Witnesses said the chase and counter-chase took place when supporters of Kandhalvi tried to go to Tongi.
A good number of law enforcers from different law enforcement agencies including Rapid Action Battalion were deployed in and around the area to avert further clash.
Rab was overseeing the overall situation in and around the area by boarding helicopter.
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