Whether Maulana Saad will come to Bishwa Ijtema — what the Home Minister said

Photo: Collected

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News Desk: Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmad has stated the government's position regarding the participation of Maulana Saad Kandhlavi, head of the Delhi Nizamuddin Markaz—the global center of Tablighi Jamaat—in the Bishwa Ijtema.

He said that the matter falls under the jurisdiction of the visa policy and the Ministry of Religious Affairs. A decision will be made on this issue in accordance with the relevant policy guidelines.

He told journalists this on Thursday (September 3) following a meeting regarding the organization of the Bishwa Ijtema.

On this day, a meeting was held at the conference room of the Ministry of Home Affairs with representatives of Tablighi Jamaat Bangladesh (Saad faction) to determine the date of the Ijtema, maintain law and order, and address other relevant matters.

At the end of the meeting, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmad informed that the first and second phases of the Bishwa Ijtema will be held from January 8 to 10 and January 15 to 17, respectively.

Centering leadership and ideological disputes within Tablighi Jamaat, its activities in Bangladesh are divided into two factions: the followers of Maulana Saad Kandhlavi and those of Maulana Zubayer. Disputes between these two sides regarding the organization of the Bishwa Ijtema in Tongi have been ongoing for several years.

Due to the 13th National Parliamentary Election, the Bishwa Ijtema of Tablighi Jamaat was not held during the final days of the previous interim government.

However, before that, in January 2025, a circular was issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs stating that the followers of Maulana Saad would host the Bishwa Ijtema in Tongi for the last time. After that, their Ijtema would be held elsewhere, not at the Tongi Ijtema grounds.

The Home Minister stated that when he met with the Zubayer faction this year, they recalled that circular and claimed that since the Saad faction had agreed to it back then, they could no longer use the Tongi Ijtema grounds this time.

During today's discussion, it was evident that the Saad faction does not agree with this. Their claim is that they do not know how or who signed it. "We were not in government back then. Those who were in charge at that time reached this decision peacefully through discussion with both parties, and everyone agreed back then."

Now, the demand of the Saad faction is that they want to organize their single phase at the same Ijtema grounds after a reasonable and logical time gap following the two phases of the Zubayer faction's Bishwa Ijtema.

The Home Minister said, "We stated that we will hold discussions with the other party on this matter, and we will talk with the concerned law enforcement agencies and intelligence services."

"The top priority of the government is to maintain law and order so that no clashes occur. Since there are past precedents and physical altercations have taken place, we will make a decision keeping that in mind."

In response to questions from journalists, the Home Minister said that the Zubayer faction will participate in the two-phase Ijtema taking place next January.

The demand of the Saad faction is that they wish to hold their Ijtema in a single phase during the interim period after the Zubayer faction finishes and before Ramadan begins, or toward the end of November before these two phases start. This is their proposal.

"We said that we will discuss with the other side and convey our decision after holding discussions with the concerned officials."