Culprits to face legal action: home minister

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan yesterday said legal action will be taken against those responsible for the December 1 factional clash of Tabligh Jamaat at the Bishwa Ijtema venue at Tongi, that that killed one person dead and 200 people injured.

Talking to reporters after visiting the Ijtema ground, he said the date of Ijtema, the second largest congregation of Muslims after the Hajj, will be fixed following discussions with the two factions after the national election, reports UNB.

Meanwhile, the Indonesian embassy in Bangladesh has admitted the allegation of one faction of the Tabligh Jamaat, that passports and belongings of some Indonesian nationals, who travelled to Bangladesh ahead of the Bishwa Ijtema, were seized by their rival group.

In a statement on Thursday, the Maulana Saad Kandhalvi-led faction had claimed that some men loyal to Maulana Zubair seized passports and money of the Indonesian nationals, who were residing at Kakrail mosque following the December 1 clash between the two factions.

Contacted, a diplomat of Indonesian embassy in Dhaka admitted that passports of several Indonesian nationals were seized. He said about a dozen Indonesians came to the embassy and informed that their passports were confiscated, although they came for peaceful religious purposes.

“We have already spoken with the concerned Bangladesh government officials and Tabligh people who seized their passport and it's now being settled,” he said. “We also assured them in a written statement on behalf of the embassy, that Indonesian Muslims came to Dhaka to attend prayers and will not join any side,” the diplomat said, and hoped that they would get back their passports smoothly.

The foreign nationals also went to Ramna Police Station to file a complaint. Kazi Mainul Hossein, officer-in-charge of the police station, said they have been asked not to make any comment over the Tabligh issue. He did not elaborate any further.

Tabligh supporters from different countries started to arrive ahead of the Ijtema, which is usually held in January. The foreigners mostly arrive at least 40 days ahead of the annual congregation to participate in voluntary work.