2nd Phase of Biswa Ijtema: Akheri Munajat today

The second and last phase of three-day Biswa Ijtema, the second largest Muslim congregation after Hajj, ends today with Akheri Munajat (final prayers).

Maulana Muhammad Jamshed, an Indian preacher, is scheduled to conduct the munajat seeking divine blessings for all, said Tabligh Jamaat leaders.

Tabligh Jamaat has been organising the annual event on the bank of the Turag river in Tongi of Gazipur since 1967.

The first phase of the ijtema was held from January 10 to 12.

Maulana Zubair Hassan, imam of the capital’s Kakrail mosque and leader of a faction of Tabligh Jamaat, administered the Akheri Munajat of the first phase.

Organisers said followers of Maulana Saad Kandhalvi have joined the second and last phase of Biswa Ijtema.

Syed Wasiful Islam, a leader of Tabligh Jamaat, told this correspondent that today’s Akheri Munajat is expected to begin between 10am and 11am, which will be conducted by Maulana Jamshed.

“Thousands of people have already thronged the ijtema venue and more are gathering,” he said, adding that this flow will continue till Akheri Munajat tomorrow [today].

More than a thousand devotees from about 35 countries, including Saudi Arabia, USA, UK, Turkey and India, took part in this year’s congregation, he added.

The second day of the ijtema, yesterday, continued through various religious sermons and prayers, Wasiful further said.

Anwar Hossain, commissioner of Gazipur Metropolitan Police, said they have beefed up security measures and restricted vehicular movement near the ijtema ground -- from yesterday night to toady afternoon -- ahead of Akheri Munajat.

Bangladesh Railway launched special services in various routes considering the huge gathering. Besides, most of the trains will make a stopover at Tongi Railway Station before and after the munajat.

FOUR MORE DIE IN IJTEMA

Meanwhile, on Friday night, four more devotees died at the ijtema venue, mostly due to heart attack and old-age complications. With them, a total of 14 people died during this year’s ijtema so far since January 10.

The four dead are Ilias Miah (85) from Dhaka’s Uttara, Abdus Sobhan (65) from Gaibandha, Humayun Kabir (65) from Rangpur, and AFM Jahurul Alam (62) from Jhenidah.

Manjur Rahman, deputy commissioner of Gazipur Metropolitan Police, said the bodies were handed over to the families after namaz-e-janazas held on the ijtema ground yesterday.