The Baitul Mukarram National Mosque plunged into chaos again yesterday as newly appointed Khatib Principal Mohammad Salauddin conducted his first juma prayers.There were protests in and outside the mosque against the new khatib. His supporters and protesters even clashed inside the mosque before khutba (sermon) in the presence of religious affairs Secretary Mamunur Rashid Chowdhury and Islamic Foundation Director General AZM Fazlur Rahman.
Salauddin's supporters drove away the protesting group from the mosque and they held a separate congregation on the road in front of the mosque. Later, they brought out a procession with shoes in their hands.
According to witnesses, the new khatib, who was appointed on January 1, took charge from acting khatib Mufti Maulana Nuruddin yesterday in the presence of several hundred law enforcers and a huge number of personnel from different intelligence agencies. As the new khatib began reading out the khutba around 12:45pm, a group of devotees raised a hue and cry and began throwing shoes at him.
Another group tried to stop them, which ultimately resulted in scuffles between the two groups. The protesters were eventually beaten and driven out of the mosque.
The ousted group of 50-60 protesters held a separate jamat on the road in front of the mosque under the leadership of Maulana Mufti Abdullah.
Delivering the khutba, Mufti Abdullah said offering prayers under the new khatib is "not right". He, however, concluded the prayers in a short time.
Around 250 protesters then brought out a procession that paraded the street.
Sources said students and teachers from different city madrasas took part in the protest against the new khatib allegedly at the instigation of Islami Oikya Jote leader Fazlul Haque Amini. Talking to The Daily Star, Amini, however, said, "I did not ask anybody to stage any demonstration against the khatib."
In reply to a question, he said, "Being a follower of Atrashi pir, Salauddin cannot be the khatib of the national mosque as most people will not accept him."
Salauddin told journalists that he is against any political activities in the national mosque.