Bangladesh Islamic Leaders Call for Peaceful Bishwa Ijtema 2027
Bangladesh | 25 October 2026
Islamic leaders in Bangladesh have urged the government to address a long-running dispute over access to the Tongi grounds ahead of the 2027 Bishwa Ijtema, one of the major annual gatherings of Muslims in the country.
According to a report published by The Daily Star on October 25, a group of Islamic leaders submitted two demands to the government following a consultative meeting at the Ijtema grounds in Tongi, Gazipur.
Dispute Over Access to the Ijtema Grounds
The leaders called on the government to maintain its previous decision restricting followers of Maulana Saad Kandhlawi from using the Tongi grounds for their gathering. The issue is part of a wider dispute between factions within Bangladesh's Tablighi Jamaat movement over the organisation of the annual religious event.
The meeting was convened by Muhibullah Babunagari, the ameer of Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh. Participants discussed the possibility of allowing the Saad-affiliated faction to use the grounds for three days.
According to the report, Babunagari said he would consult senior Islamic scholars before communicating his position to the authorities.
Calls for Progress in Murder Investigations
The leaders also called for investigations into murder cases linked to incidents at Tongi in 2018 and 2024 to be expedited, with charge sheets submitted without unnecessary delay.
The cases remain a significant part of the dispute surrounding the gathering. The demands reported by the newspaper reflect the position of the leaders who attended the consultation; they should not be interpreted as a final government decision.
Concerns Over the 2027 Gathering
The Bishwa Ijtema brings together Muslim worshippers for religious sermons, prayer and spiritual reflection. Ensuring safe access to the venue and preventing further clashes are important considerations as preparations for the next gathering continue.
The latest demands highlight the challenges facing authorities as they seek to manage competing claims over the event's organisation and venue.
As of the publication of this report, the demands described in the news coverage should be understood as requests from the participating leaders, not as newly confirmed government orders.
Source: The Daily Star, Bangladesh, published October 25, 2026.
Editorial note: This report summarises published news and attributes the demands to the Islamic leaders involved. Islam Global News has not independently verified every claim in the original report.
