The Eid-ul-Fitr prayers did not start well in Gazipur as two groups of devotees fought over who would lead the congregation, police say.Several people, who had come to say the prayers at Rajbarhi, even hurled shoes at Gazipur’s Deputy Commissioner (DC) Md Nurul Islam who tried to restore peace.
Quoting witnesses, police said trouble started brewing with an announcement that national mosque’s Hafez Maulana Mizanur Rahman would lead the prayers scheduled for 8am on Friday.
It triggered protests from among several devotees who demanded Gazipur Central Mosque’s Khatib Monir Hossain led the prayers.
DC Islam said the Khatib is accused in cases filed under the Explosives Act over Hifazat-e Islam activists vandalising a replica of the Ganajagaran Mancha in Gazipur several months ago.
“Locals have objected to his (Monir Hossain) leading the prayers. So, we invited Hafez Maulana Mizanur Rahman from Dhaka to lead the Eid prayers,” Islam said.
The DC, local Awami League leader Waj Uddin Mia and BNP leader Shahiduzzaman requested people to maintain calm.
At one stage, several people lobbed shoes at the DC. Another group chased them leading to the scuffle.
Others, who did not take part in the fracas, were seen leaving the ground in a hurry. Many said their prayers in other mosques.
Police intervened at that point and detained two men from the scene following which situation calmed down to certain extent.
Joydebpur police Assistant Sub-Inspector Mahfuzur Rahman said they had released the detainees with the DC and Superintendent of Police’s permission.- bdnews24.com
