Habiganj:

 Tensions have emerged in Madhabpur upazila of Habiganj over the participation of Islamic preacher Mufti Gias Uddin At-Taheri in an annual Sunni religious conference.
 
Following objections to his participation, a meeting convened by the local administration decided to hold the annual Sunni Mahasammelan of Khandura Darbar Sharif without Taheri to maintain law and order and prevent any untoward incidents.
 
The decision, however, has sparked resentment among Taheri's followers, while the issue has triggered widespread discussion and criticism on social media.
 
The conference is scheduled to be held on Sunday (November 15) at Talibpur in Bahara Union of the upazila. Syed Zubayer Kamal and Syed Rezaul Kamal Wasim, pirs of Khandura Habeli, along with other religious leaders associated with the Darbar Sharif, are expected to attend.
 
The decision to exclude Taheri was taken at a meeting arranged by the administration, where participants discussed ways to maintain normal law and order and avert possible clashes.
 
Those present included Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Mehedi Hasan, Madhabpur Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Sohel Rana, Chowmuhani Union Parishad Chairman Mahbubur Rahman Sohag, upazila BNP president Shamsul Islam Kamal and acting chairman of Bahara Union Parishad Mosharraf Hossain, among others.
 
Tensions had been building in local political and religious circles over Taheri's proposed participation in the conference.
 
On Saturday afternoon, a faction of Bahara Union BNP leaders and activists staged a procession and protest rally at Kashimnagar Bazar, declaring that Taheri would not be allowed to attend the religious gathering. The demonstration was led by Shahin Alam Ripon, president of the union BNP and a chairman candidate.
 
Addressing the rally, Ripon said Taheri would not be allowed to participate under any circumstances. He alleged that some of the preacher's remarks had generated controversy in political and social circles.
 
Taheri, however, had earlier maintained that he would attend the conference despite the protests. He said his followers were standing by him and that he would go to the venue if the microphone was used to conduct the programme.
 
Posters inviting him to the conference had also been printed, and announcements had been made through loudspeakers. However, following the meeting between the organisers and the administration, the decision was made to hold the event without him.
 
Meanwhile, several local BNP leaders said the controversy did not stem from any organisational decision of the party. They maintained that the BNP did not intend to stop any religious gathering and insisted that the issue was not political.
 
The Talibpur Ahsania Mission High School authorities had initially objected to using the school field as the venue for the conference.
 
Acting headteacher Almas Mia said the organisers had been informed in writing that permission to use the field had been withdrawn in accordance with instructions from the education board. However, he said he had subsequently learned that there were no further objections to holding the event there.
 
Inspector Ikhtiar Uddin, in-charge of Kashimnagar Police Outpost, said extensive preparations, including the construction of a large pavilion, had been made for the conference.
 
"One group staged a procession on Saturday demanding a boycott of Taheri. Police personnel are deployed at the venue to maintain law and order," he said.
 
Madhabpur Police Station OC Mohammad Sohel Rana said police and the administration were prepared to prevent any untoward incidents.