First phase Ijtema ends seeking divine blessings

Staff Correspondent, Gazipur:  The three-day first phase Biswa Ijtema, one of the largest congregation of the Muslims, at Tongi, on the outskirts of capital Dhaka ended with millions of devotees from home and abroad taking part in the `Akheri Munajat` (concluding prayers) on Sunday.

 

World Tabligh Jamaat Ameer Maulana Muhammad Saad from Delhi conducted the munajat seeking global peace, unity and welfare of the Muslim Ummah along with salvation in the world hereafter.

 

The 35-minute Akheri Munajat, amid resounding of the word `amin` and tears rolling down from the eyes of pious Muslims, began at 11.00am and ended at 11.35am.

 

Tens of thousands of Muslims from about 100 countries and 16 districts participated in the first phase Ijtema.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

About 7,804 foreign nationals of about 91 countries while thousands others of 16 districts across the country joined 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 took 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 were taken for the event along with deployment of several thousand members of different law-enforcement agencies, including RAB and police.
 
RAB members patrolled the ground and the adjacent areas with helicopters to monitor security measures.
 
Several health centres were set up at different parts of the Ijtema venue with beds.
 
Special measures were 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/Augustin Sujan