Tens of thousands of Muslims raised their hands seeking blessings for mankind as the second phase of Biswa Ijtema concluded with the final supplication -- Akheri Munajat -- on the Turag banks today.

Hafez Mohammad Zobayer, imam of Kakrail Mosque in the capital, conducted the 26-minute munajat that started from 10:19am, our Gazipur correspondent reports quoting Inspector of Gazipur Special Branch Mominul Islam.

Photo: Prabir Das

The Munajat has been offered in both Bangla and Arabic.

Earlier in the morning, Mawlana Abdul Matin delivered a sermon on the importance of Islam based on the Quran and Hadith.

The gathering of devotees of all ages spilled onto the adjacent roads during the munajat. Many people joined the prayers from rooftops of vehicles and buildings, from open fields and from nearby houses and roads.

Photo: Prabir Das

Devotees who could not reach the venue joined the prayers through cell phones and electronic media.

President M Abdul Hamid also joined the Akheri Munajat from Bangabhaban of Dhaka, reports BSS.

The President along with officials and staff members of Bangabhaban took part in the Akheri Munajat from Darbar Hall through big digital screen as the special prayer was telecast live from the banks of the Turag River at Tongi in Gazipur.

The second phase of Ijtema began on January 19.

Two devotees have meanwhile died during the second phase. They are identified as Mobarak Hossain alias Mohor Ali, 65, of Jamalpur and Shahidul Islam, 56, of Keraniganj in Dhaka.

Around 4,500 foreigners from 80 countries and several lakh local devotees from 14 districts took part in the second phase, said Gazipur Deputy Commissioner Dewan Muhammad Humayun Kabir yesterday.

The stretch of Chandra intersection to Tongi Bridge on Dhaka-Mymensingh highway was closed today due to the Akheri Munajat.

Besides, the stretches of Majukhan Bridge to Station Road and Kamarpara Bridge to Munnu Textile Mill Gate on Kaliganj-Tongi Road were off limits.

The first phase of Ijtema began on the bank of Turag on January 12 that ended on January 14.

The Tabligh Jamaat has been organising the annual congregation since 1946.