First phase of Biswa Ijtema begins

The first phase of the Biswa Ijtema, the second largest congregation of Muslim community after Hajj, has begun officially today after Fazr prayers in Tongi on the outskirts of the capital amid tight security and shivering cold.

Thousands of devotes gathered on the banks of the Turag River in Tongi to take part in the first phase of the Bishwa Ijtema.

The two-day first phase of religious congregation will continue till January 12 and the second phase of Ijtema will be held from January 17-19.

Gazipur Metropolitan Police Commissioner Md Anwar Hossain said adequate measures have been taken to ensure security for the participating devotees.

Tabligh Jamaat has been organising the congregation at the venue since 1967. In 2011, Tabligh split the Ijtema into two phases, dividing the participation of the people of 64 districts, to reduce pressure on the venue and ensure better management.

The first Ijtemas were organized in Chattogram (1954) and Narayanganj (1958), followed by Ijtemas at the Ramna Race Course in Dhaka in 1960, 1962 and 1965. Due to the increasing rate of participants, the government of East Pakistan allowed organizers to schedule the event annually by the River Turag in 1967.

 

Gazipur/Hasmot Ali/AI