Two individuals lost their lives, and over a hundred others were injured in violent clashes between followers of Maulana Zubair and Maulana Saad over control of the Tongi Ijtema ground. The incident occurred in the early hours of Wednesday, December 18, around 3:00 AM.

The deceased were identified as Bachchu Mia, 70, from Egarsindu village in Kishoreganj's Pakundia upazila, and Belal, 60, from the Berait area in South Khan, Dhaka. Among the injured were Abdur Rouf, 55, from Brahmanbaria, Mojibur Rahman, 58, from Mymensingh, Abdul Hannan, 60, from Tongi, and several others, including individuals from Gopalganj, Savar, Narsingdi, Chattogram, Keraniganj, Narayanganj, and Satkhira. Many of the injured were immediately rushed to Tongi Ahsan Ullah Master General Hospital and other medical facilities.

The violence erupted when members of the Saad faction reportedly began entering the Ijtema ground from the western bank of the Turag River through multiple routes, including the Kamarpara Bridge. In response, members of the Zubair faction inside the ground hurled bricks and stones at the advancing Saad faction members, who retaliated by launching a counterattack. The confrontation escalated into a large-scale clash when Saad faction members managed to breach the ground’s perimeter.

In a video message, Muazz Bin Noor, a prominent elder from the Saad faction, claimed that his group had gained control of the Ijtema ground. He accused the Zubair faction of initiating the attack, resulting in the death of one of their members.

Local authorities confirmed the scale of the violence. Tongi West Police Station Officer-in-Charge Habib Iskandar reported that one person died on the spot while another succumbed to injuries at Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Efforts are ongoing to provide medical treatment to the injured, who are being treated in various hospitals.

The clash has left the community in shock and raised concerns over the management of the Ijtema ground. Police have been deployed to the area, and law enforcement authorities are working to restore order and ensure the safety of the local population.

While the immediate situation has been brought under control, tensions remain high. Investigations are ongoing, and local authorities have urged both groups to refrain from further violence.