The gathering of prominent religious scholars at Dhaka’s Suhrawardy Udyan, has been dismissed as a "political showdown" by the followers of Maulana Saad Kandhalvi, who have called a press conference on Wednesday to express their concerns.
The press conference is scheduled for 11am on Wednesday at the National Press Club, where Saad-aligned scholars, including Mufti Shafiullah Shafi Makki, general secretary of Hakkani Ulama Mashayekh Parishad, and Touhidul Haque Sohel, a spokesperson for the group, will address the media.
Saad’s supporters criticize rally as politically motivated
On Tuesday, Muhammad Abu Sayem, media coordinator for Maulana Saad's followers in Bangladesh, spoke out about the event.
He said: “We focus on the core mission of Tablighi Jamaat. We do not aim to threaten anyone."
He labelled the gathering as a "political show-down," alleging that political party activists and madrasa students had been mobilized to pressure the government ahead of the upcoming national elections.
"This is an attempt to gain political leverage. The students attending this rally are not part of the real Tablighi work. They are not the ones spending time on ‘Chilla’ (intensive preaching trips). Yet, even young children from madrasa schools were brought in," he added.
Frustration over exclusion from Tablighi activities
During a meeting at the Ministry of Home Affairs on Monday, Maulana Muaz bin Noor, a representative of Maulana Saad’s followers, expressed his discontent, saying: "For the past seven years, we have been excluded from the Tablighi field and other religious activities. Those who have been obstructing us—followers of Maulana Mohammad Zubair—were invited by the ministry, but they refused to attend.
“They have created divisions within Bangladesh, and by not attending, they are disrespecting the government. They are showing that they will do whatever they please," he added.
Govt announces Bishwa Ijtema dates amidst dispute
Despite the absence of Maulana Zubair’s followers at the ministry meeting, Home Affairs Adviser Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury confirmed the schedule for the Bishwa Ijtema in Tongi, Gazipur.
He announced that the Ijtema will take place in two phases: January 31 to February 2 (Phase 1) and February 7 to 9 (Phase 2).
However, at the rally on Tuesday, it was announced that followers of Maulana Saad Kandhalvi would not be allowed to participate in the Ijtema.
Scholars attending the gathering also presented a series of demands to the government, urging authorities to address the ongoing rift within the Tablighi community.
