Lakhs join Jumma prayers at Ijtema ground

Staff Correspondent, Gazipur: Lakhs of pilgrims and a large number of people from the capital Dhaka and adjacent areas joined Jumma prayers Friday on Biswa Ijtema ground on the eastern bank of Turag.

The first phase of Biswa Ijtema, the second largest congregation of the Muslims after Hajj, began on Friday morning at Tongi, on the outskirts of the capital Dhaka.

The congregation started formally with religious sermons after Fajr prayers.

The congregation, organized by Tablig Jamaat, will conclude on Sunday through the final prayers `Akheri Munajat`.

President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have given separate messages on the eve of the Ijtema.

They have greeted all the devotees and wished success of the event.

Gazipur City Corporation Mayor Professor MA Manna said the City Corporation, district administration, police, RAB and Ansar and VDP have set up five separate control rooms to monitor the overall activities of the Tongi Ijtema.

The City Corporation has erected 13 gates at the entrances of the Ijtema ground to welcome the foreign devotees.

The mayor also said 3.54 lakh gallons of fresh water will be supplied everyday through 18.50 kilometer pipelines from 13 deep tube-wells and 21 trucks will be engaged in removing garbage from the Ijtema ground.

An eight-tier security measure has been taken with deployment of 7,000 policemen and about 250 RAB members to avert any untoward incident during the Ijtema.

According to the sources, 15 watch towers and 41 close circuit camera televisions have been set up in and around the Ijtema ground alongside deployment of bomb disposal units and dog squads to ensure foolproof security of the Biswa Ijtema.

Fifty medical teams and 14 ambulances will provide health care services to the devotees during the three-day congregation.

The second phase of the Tongi Ijtema will begin on January 19 at the same venue and it is scheduled to end with Akheri Munajat (final prayers) on January 21.

Tablig Jamaat has been organizing the Ijtema at this venue since 1967. However, the Ijtema is held in two phases since 2011 to ease the accommodation problem.

 

risingbd/Gazipur/Jan 12, 2018/Hasmot/Mukul