Thousands pour in as Ijtema begins

Thousands of Muslims from home and abroad move towards the Ijtema grounds on the Turag river in Tongi on the first day of the congregation yesterday

The Biswa Ijtema, the biggest Muslim congregation after Haji, began yesterday at Tongi on the bank of the river Turag with sermons highlighting the significance of Islam by scholars from home and abroad.

The deliberations, on the basic norms and teachings of Islam in the light of the holy Quran and as explained in the Hadith, started after Fajr prayers and ran late in to night with breaks for prayers and for rest.

Moulana Abdul Haq, Abdul Ansary of Pakistan and Miaji Ajmat, Zubair Hasan of India were prominent among those who spoke yesterday.

The huge canopy on the 160-acre ground on the eastern bank of Turag was brimming with devotees. Many listened to the speeches squatting on the open space or on the adjacent roadsides.

Thousands of others are still converging at the Ijtema ground from different districts of the country and abroad in all modes of transports including trains. Large numbers of delegates from India, Pakistan, Myanmar, Thailand, The Philippines, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Kuwait, Iran, Iraq, Oman and Qatar are participating. A significant number of devotees also came from Europe and the Americas.

The day's deliberations were translated simultaneously into a number of languages including English, Arabic, Hindi and French for the foreign delegates.

Meanwhile, three more people died yesterday on the way to or after arriving at the Ijtema ground, according to sources.

Shohrab Hossain, 55, from Mymensingh died at Tongi Rail Station yesterday morning following a heart attack. The body of Hossain, an employee of Alhaj Jute Mills at Sharishabari, was sent to his village home.

Another unidentified woman aged about 35 died at Tongi Station Road crossing after being knocked down by a speeding bus.

Abul Kashem, 65, a local political leader of Tongi, died soon after he returned home after saying Esha prayers at the Ijtema ground on Friday.

Some 14 devotees also fell sick from food poisoning. They were rushed to the local hospitals. Three of them were later transferred to Dhaka Medical College Hospital as their condition deteriorated.

Eight other serious patients suffering from diarrhea, gastrointestinal disorder and chest disease were also referred to various hospitals in the capital.

Police arrested 86 suspected pickpockets from the Ijtema ground and the adjacent areas. A large number of plainclothes men have been deployed to curb crimes.