Loyalists of Maulana Saad are set to organize a gathering in the city on December 7

Thousands of followers of the Tabligh Jamaat faction loyal to Maulana Mohammed Saad Kandhalvi gathered yesterday at Dhaka's Kakrail Mosque and its surrounding areas as part of a scheduled program. The gathering began in the morning, with many attendees traveling from outside the city. In response, additional police personnel were deployed to maintain order and prevent any untoward incidents. 

The participants attended a brief sermon followed by Juma prayers. According to several followers, those not actively involved in Dawah (Islamic missionary work) left the area after the prayers, while those engaged in such activities remained at the mosque. The sermon included specific instructions for the followers, they said. 

Witnesses reported that the gathering extended from Kakrail intersection to Matsya Bhaban intersection, causing road closures and disrupting vehicular movement throughout the morning. 

Following the prayers, an announcement was made via a megaphone inside the mosque, stating that a larger gathering of the faction is planned for December 7. One participant from Kalyanpur, who arrived with a group of 20, expressed hopes for unity among Tabligh Jamaat members, emphasizing the importance of collaboration for the greater good, despite his allegiance to Maulana Saad. 

Mizanur Rahman, another follower who traveled from Barishal, said the Saad faction has historically organized the second phase of the Biswa Ijtema but now seeks to lead the first phase. He also emphasized their desire for Maulana Saad to attend the Ijtema.

Earlier, on Wednesday, the faction called on the government to permit followers of Delhi’s Nizamuddin Markaz, led by Maulana Saad, to host the first phase of the Biswa Ijtema next year. During a press conference at the Jatiya Press Club, faction leaders also urged the authorities to hand over control of the Kakrail Markaz, the central hub of Tabligh Jamaat in Bangladesh, to the Nizamuddin-aligned group. 

Muhammad Azimuddin, the imam of Kakrail Mosque, stated, “It will be a grave mistake if anyone tries to deny us our rightful claims and property.”