Chattogram Residents Suffer Due to Azhari’s Mahfil

Local Correspondent

Residents of Chattogram have been facing severe traffic congestion over the past few days due to a five-day Tafsir Mahfil organized by the Islamic Social Welfare Council, an affiliate of the controversial organization Jamaat-e-Islami. The event, held at the Parade Ground near Chattogram Government College, has caused gridlock stretching approximately 8 kilometers, affecting areas from Chawkbazar, Chandanpura, Jamal Khan, and the Chattogram Medical College vicinity.

On Friday night, Maulana Mizanur Rahman Azhari delivered a speech at the Tafsirul Quran Mahfil at the Parade Ground. Thousands of attendees, eager to hear Azhari’s sermon, began heading toward the venue from the morning. Many also participated in the Jummah prayers at the site. The surrounding areas, including Chawkbazar Telipotti intersection, Doyas Access Road, Oli Khan Mosque intersection, and Gani Bakery intersection, came to a standstill.

Volunteers from Islami Chhatra Shibir, the student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami, arrived from various parts of the country to assist with the event. They blocked roads, halting all vehicular movement, including public transport, private vehicles, and even ambulances heading to Chattogram Medical College. This caused immense suffering for the general public, with many stranded for hours in unbearable traffic. People with urgent tasks were left helpless, unable to reach their destinations.

The situation became so dire that alternative routes were also blocked, forcing many to abandon their vehicles and walk to their destinations. In the afternoon, an ambulance carrying a patient from Cosmopolitan Residential Area to Chattogram Medical College Hospital was stuck due to the roadblocks. The patient’s family expressed their frustration, stating, “We have been deceived. Those who promised change have taken over the country. We never expected this.”

A working woman, who had taken her child out for a day off, voiced her helplessness, saying, “In all my years in Chattogram, I have never seen the city suffer like this. Jamaat-Shibir never had the opportunity to occupy roads and fields like this before. We are paying the price for our mistakes; we have brought this suffering upon ourselves.”

Although the event concluded around 11 PM, the traffic congestion remained severe.

The five-day Mahfil, organized by the Islamic Social Welfare Council, began on Monday, January 27. Previously, this event was associated with the infamous war criminal Delwar Hossain Sayeedi. Following Sayeedi, Mizanur Rahman Azhari has taken up the mantle of leading this Mahfil.

Meanwhile, reports have emerged of widespread extortion by Jamaat-Shibir activists under the guise of collecting donations for the religious event. Many businessmen have alleged that they were forced to pay advance amounts listed on donation receipts. Photos and videos of these activities have already gone viral on social media. However, no responsible leader from Jamaat-Shibir has commented on these allegations.