Madrasa teacher Kamaluddin Abbasi has confessed to leading communal attacks on puja mandaps in Hajiganj upazila in Chandpur on October 13. Chandpur Senior Judicial Magistrate Mohammad Kamal Uddin recorded his confessional statement on Thursday evening and sent him to jail, said police on Saturday. Earlier in the day, Abbasi was identified from CCTV footage and was later arrested from Hajiganj. Abbasi is a lecturer of Arabic at Bholadighi Kamil Madrasa in Sharasti area and resident of Hajiganj upazila. Read: Mohib Ullah murder: Killing squad member Azizul “confesses to involvement” Principal of the madrasa Delwar Hossain said Abbasi was a follower of the peer of Furfura Sharif but he has no involvement with Jamaat. But detectives said Abbasi was an active member of Jamaat. On October 13, five people died in a clash with police when a group of miscreants attacked Hajiganj Bazar temple in protest against desecration of the Holy Quran in Cumilla. Officer-in-charge of Hajiganj police station Harunur Rashid told UNB that police have filed two cases in this regard while eight complaints were lodged by the authorities of vandalised puja mandaps. Read: Two held for Rangpur arson attacks 'admit guilt' So far, 33 people, including Abbasi, have been arrested in these cases. Around 250 named and another 2,500 anonymous people were made accused in these 10 cases, said the OC. Superintendent of Police Milon Mahmud said those involved in the attack are being held seeing the CCTV footage collected from the cameras around the spots.

The century-old 'Boro Masjid' in Hajiganj of Chandpur has earned a reputation of holding one of the largest congregations on Juma'atul Wida, the last Jumma (Friday) prayer of Ramadan, over the years. This year was no different despite the risk of Covid-19 outbreak. Around 1 lac people gathered at the mosque ignoring the scorching sun and wearing masks. Although devotees were supposed to join prayers maintaining social distancing, by 11 am the first two floors of the huge mosque was filled to the brim by Muslim devotees. Not only the mosque but also the surrounding Ahmadia Alia Madrasa grounds and buildings, Jamia Ahmadiyya Qawmi Madrasa Bhaban, Hajiganj Tower, Rajnigandha Market, Hajiganj Plaza, Business Prime Bank Bhaban and the former municipality building was completely occupied by the worshippers within 12:30 pm. Also read: Juma’atul Wida observed By 1 pm, the wave of Muslim devotees spread till  the Cumilla-Chandpur regional highway which even halted the movement of transportation during the period. At the end of the prayers, Imam and Khatib Alhaj Mufti Abdur Rauf offered special prayers for the welfare of the country and sought a world free of Covid -19.  During the munajat, the sky and air became muffled by the sound of worshippers saying 'Amin' after the imam. Regarding the preparations for the Jamaat of Juma'atul Wida, Shakil Ahmed, the Motawalli (Acting) of the Hajiganj Historical Grand Mosque, said,  "Due to the epidemic, special measures have been taken to perform Juma'atul Wida prayers this time as compared to other years.  We have tried our best to serve the worshipers. He further said that the police force of Hajiganj police station, various social organizations and local organizations have provided us with adequate support for the peaceful and orderly conduct of prayers.  I express my sincere gratitude and appreciation to them and look forward to their continued support in the future. Juma'atul Wida or the last Friday prayers in congregation in Ramadan, is meant for saying farewell to the glorious month of fasting.