2nd phase of Ijtema ends today
The second phase of three-day Biswa Ijtema, the second largest Muslim congregation after the Hajj, ends today with Akheri Munajat seeking divine blessings for the people and the Muslim Ummah.
Noted Indian Islamic scholar Mawlana Muhammad Saad is expected to lead the Akheri Munajat (concluding prayers) sometime between 10:00am and 11:00am, said organisers.
The first phase of the Ijtema started on January 13 and concluded on January 15.
Several million devotees, including over 5,000 foreigners from around 90 countries, are likely to turn up for the Akheri Munajat on the banks of the Turag in Tongi of Gazipur.
On the second day yesterday, thousands of devotees joined the congregation braving the cold. Religious scholars delivered sermons on Islamic philosophy in the light of the holy Quran and Hadith.
Additional security measures have meanwhile been put in place ahead of today's Akheri Munajat.
Around 11,000 uniformed and plainclothes police, Rab, and members of intelligence agencies are deployed in and around the Ijtema ground to avert any untoward situation.
Five-layer security measures have been taken and CCTV cameras have been set up at each of the 17 entrances to the venue, said police sources.
The district administration has deployed 10 mobile courts to check selling adulterated, stale or sub-standard food at the restaurants adjacent to the venue.
Devotee Joynal Abedin, 70, from Kishoreganj died of old-age complications on Friday night. With Joynal, nine devotees have so far died at the Ijtema venue this year.
In Dhaka city, vehicular movement would remain suspended from Mohakhali to Abdullahpur and Dhour Bridge to Abdullahpur from 4:00am, said a press release of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP).
In Gazipur, vehicular movement would be suspended from Chandona intersection on Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway to the Ijtema venue, Mirerbazar intersection of Dhaka-Kaliganj Highway to the venue and Baipail intersection of Dhaka-Tangail Highway to the venue from early morning to noon, reports our correspondent quoting police.
However, vehicles carrying officials relating to plane operations, firefighting vehicles, ambulance and vehicles of the law-enforcement agencies will remain out of the purview of this restriction.
The DMP have arranged four microbuses, which would be kept waiting at Nikunja-1 residential area's gate from 4:00am to carry passengers travelling abroad or returning home.
Anyone can contact the cellphone numbers 01713398498 or 01711366561 for any traffic related information.
The railway authorities would operate 29 trains on different routes including Gazipur to Akhaura, Comilla and Mymensingh to cope with the rush of devotees.
The Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) would also operate 50 buses from Savar, Gabtali, Jatrabari, Gazipur and other areas to the Ijtema venue, said officials.
Gazipur police have arranged 50 free shuttle buses from Bhogra bypass area to the venue to help the devotees cross their way easily.
Tablighi Jamaat has been organising Biswa Ijtema, also called the World Muslims' Congregation, every year since 1946. In 2011, the organisers split the congregation into two phases to deal with overcrowding and ensure better management and security.