The organisation also demands speedy investigations and charge sheets in murder cases over incidents in 2018 and 2024, currently being investigated by the PBI.
TBS Report
24 October, 2026, 09:50 pm
Last modified: 24 October, 2026, 09:51 pm
Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh has demanded that the government bar followers of Maulana Saad Kandhalvi from holding Ijtema and other Tablighi activities at the Biswa Ijtema ground in Gazipur's Tongi and expedite investigations into murder cases filed over incidents there in 2018 and 2024.
The demands were formally presented to the government at a press briefing today (24 October), following a national consultation meeting with leading Islamic scholars at the Shabguzari point in the tin-shed section of the Ijtema ground.
The meeting was convened at the call of Hefazat-e-Islam chief Allama Shah Muhibbullah Babunagari and attended by prominent Islamic scholars, senior religious figures and leaders from all 64 districts.
At the press conference, the organisation said a senior government representative had recently contacted its chief to seek his opinion on whether followers of Saad should be allowed to use the Tongi ground for three days for this year's Ijtema.
Babunagari had said he would consult senior Islamic scholars before making a decision, prompting the national consultation meeting, the organisation said.
Based on the unanimous opinion of the scholars attending the meeting, Hefazat decided to put forward two demands.
First, it called on the government to maintain its previous decision not to allow Saad followers to use the Tongi Ijtema ground after 2025.
Second, it demanded that investigations into the murder cases filed over the incidents in Tongi in 2018 and 2024 be completed promptly and charge sheets submitted.
The cases are currently under investigation by the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI).
At the press briefing, the religious leaders also urged madrasahs, markaz centres and Islamic institutions across the country to organise prayers over the issue of Saad followers holding the Ijtema.
They warned that if undue pressure were exerted on the government or attempts were made to create disorder over the issue, they would organise strong protest programmes in their respective districts in line with a central decision.