Worshippers in Aditmari upazila were forced to perform Friday prayers on the road after a long-running conflict between two mosque committees led to the closure of their local mosque. 

Tension has gripped the community in Durgapur union following the incident.

The standoff occurred at the Shathibari Bazar Central Jame Mosque in Uttar Gobdha village on Friday. 

Due to the mosque being padlocked amid the dispute, one faction of worshippers offered the sacred Jummah prayers on the street outside.

According to local sources, for more than half a century the Shathibari Bazar Central Jame Mosque functioned solely as a waktiya mosque, where only the five daily prayers were offered. 

As the number of worshippers grew, Friday congregational prayers were introduced about a year ago alongside the regular five-time prayers.

Earlier, a complaint had been lodged with the local army camp commander over the dispute. 

On 14 September, an understanding was reportedly reached, giving local union parishad member Golam Rabbani responsibility for unlocking the mosque.

However, tensions escalated again in recent weeks when the committee and worshippers of the nearby Uttar Gobdha Baitunnur Jame Mosque opposed the holding of prayers at the Shathibari mosque. 

They insisted that there should be only one mosque for Friday prayers in the area and objected to the emergence of a “new” mosque.

On 12 September, worshippers from the Baitunnur Jame Mosque allegedly forced their way into the Shathibari mosque and locked its doors. Two worshippers were injured while trying to resist them.

Following the incident, a case was filed at Aditmari Police Station naming 19 people — including Jasim Mia, son of Nokibul Islam of Uttar Gobdha village, as well as Zia Uddin and Zahid — along with six or seven unidentified individuals. A written complaint was also submitted to the Lalmonirhat deputy commissioner.

Aditmari Police Station Officer-in-Charge Ali Akbar confirmed receiving the complaint. 

We have accepted the allegations and will take lawful measures after investigation," he said.