A long-standing feud over the leadership of the Tabligh Jamaat erupted into deadly violence at the Turag Riverbank in Tongi on Wednesday (18 December).
The clashes between supporters of Maulana Saad Kandhalvi and Maulana Zubair Ahmed resulted in at least four fatalities and numerous injuries.
Followers from both factions attribute the nearly nine-year conflict to multiple factors, with the leadership of the Ijtema and disputes over Saad’s khutbah being central issues.
Following Wednesday’s harrowing events, several adherents from both sides spoke to this newspaper regarding the underlying dispute.
They affirmed that there is no disagreement concerning fundamental Islamic tenets.
However, Zubair’s followers object to certain aspects of Saad’s sermons and have accused him of propagating controversial views.
Saad’s supporters, on the other hand, allege that their repeated calls for dialogue have been ignored by the opposing faction.
Speaking to this newspaper, Saad’s supporter Shaikh al-Mursaleen stated, “There is no ideological conflict regarding the fundamentals of Islam. The disagreement lies in recognising the leadership of the principal murabbi or Ameer. We have repeatedly sought to resolve this crisis through discussions, but the other faction [Zubair’s followers] has consistently avoided engagement, often displaying extremism. What transpired at Turag is profoundly regrettable for all da’wah workers and has exacerbated the crisis rather than easing it.”
Conversely, two followers of Zubair asserted, “Maulana Saad delivers distorted khutbahs containing controversial and erroneous statements. The rejection of his leadership stems from these issues. Our senior murabbis have previously called for Saad’s removal, and there is no alternative to this demand. We do not wish to comment further.”
The leadership dispute dates back to 2015, following the death of the previous Ameer.
At that time, a shura committee comprising 9–10 members, including Haji Abdul Muqit, was formed to propose candidates for the position.
They recommended Maulana Izharul Hasan, Maulana Zubairul Hasan Kandhalvi, and Maulana Saad Kandhalvi, with Saad being the youngest among them.
After the deaths of Izharul Hasan and Zubairul Hasan, Saad emerged as the Ameer.
However, two key members of the shura committee, Maulana Muhammad Ibrahim and Maulana Ahmed Lath, opposed Saad’s appointment as the principal murabbi of the Ijtema.
This division deepened when both Ibrahim and Lath began conducting separate da’wah activities.
In Bangladesh, Maulana Zubair Ahmed and his followers also raised allegations of distortion and controversy against Saad’s sermons, intensifying the conflict.
The feud, which has persisted since 2016, culminated in Wednesday’s bloody confrontation, underscoring the urgent need for resolution within the Tabligh Jamaat.
