Clash erupts between supporters of former and current khatib at mosque in Bangladesh
by Aditi VermaA violent scuffle broke out between the supporters of the former and current khatibs , injuring several devotees and forcing law enforcement to intervene before the Jummah prayers could proceed.
The incident took place at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque in Dhaka on September 21.
Visuals showed inside the mosque, two groups were locked in a chaotic and ugly fight, hurling objects at each other. The atmosphere was filled with tension and panic, as shoes and other items flew through the air. The scene was one of total disorder, with loud shouting, people pushing, and a general sense of confusion. Worshippers who came for prayers were caught off guard, many trying to avoid the conflict while others quickly left the area. The mosque, usually a place of peace, was engulfed in an atmosphere of turmoil and violence.
The altercation reportedly began when the former khatib, who had not appeared at the mosque since August 5, returned with his supporters and forcibly grabbed the microphone from the current khatib during the sermon, sparking unrest.
Witnesses say that a scuffle quickly broke out between both groups, with devotees from both sides throwing shoes and plastic items at each other, causing panic and forcing many worshippers to leave the mosque.
Police, who had been stationed outside the mosque, intervened to control the situation, detaining three individuals involved in the altercation. Law enforcement officers, alongside military personnel, managed to restore order by 1:15 pm, allowing regular prayers to resume.
Several people sustained injuries during the brawl, and videos of the incident have been circulating on social media, showing damaged windows and doors inside the mosque.
Md Khalid Hossain, chief of Paltan Police Station, confirmed that the situation was now under control, though the police remain on high alert in the area to prevent any further unrest.