Akheri Munajat begins

Staff Correspondent, Gazipur: The Akheri Munajat (final prayers) of the first phase of three-day Biswa Ijtema, one of the largest congregations of Muslims, began at the Ijtema ground at 11.00am.

 Noted Islamic Scholar Maulana Mohammad Sad from India is conducting the munajat.

Tens of thousands of Muslims from about 100 countries and 16 districts are participating in the first phase on the banks of the river Turag at Tongi.

Organizers said as many as four million people from all walks of life are joining the Akheri Munajat before the Zohr prayers today.

Deputy speaker, cabinet members, lawmakers, professionals, political leaders and senior officials are joining the concluding prayer.

Loudspeakers have been set up at all directions beyond the Ijtema ground to facilitate people to listen to the munajat.

About 7,804 foreign nationals of about 91 countries while thousands others of 16 districts across the country are joining the Ijtema ground since Thursday last to seek divine blessings of the Almighty Allah.

The devotees of foreign countries including India, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Arab Emirates, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, Algeria, Oman, Yemen, Sudan, Palestine, Tunisia, Bahrain, France, Kuwait, Somalia, Kenya, Germany, Switzerland, Canada, the United States, Iraq and Iran are taking part in the Akheri Munajat.
 
Besides, the musullies of 16 districts -Gazipur, Dhaka, Tangail, Mymensingh, Brahmanbaria, Manikganj, Rangpur, Chapainawabganj, Rangamati, Bandarban, Gopalganj, Shariatpur, Jessore, Khagrachhari, Joypurhat, Moulvibazar and Satkhira attended the Ijtema.
 
Meanwhile, a five-tier security measures has been taken for the event along with deployment of several thousand members of different law-enforcement agencies, including RAB and police.
 
RAB members are patrolling the ground and the adjacent areas with helicopters to monitor security measures.
 
Several health centres have also been set up at different parts of the Ijtema venue with beds.
 
Special measures have also been taken to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply during the three-day Ijtema.
 
Earlier, the Ijtema formally began with "ambayan" (general sermon) after Fazr prayers at dawn on Friday.

The second phase of the Ijtema is scheduled to begin on January 20 at the same venue and it will end on January 22.

Tablig Jamaat has been organizing the Biswa Ijtema on the bank of Turag river since 1967. Now Ijtema is being held in two phases since 2011 to ease the accommodation problem, an organizer said.

Risingbd/Gazipur/Jan 15, 2017/Hasmot/Mukul