Thousands seek divine blessings
Hundreds of thousands of devotees yesterday raised their hands to seek divine blessings for mankind and the Muslim Ummah during Akheri Munajat of the first phase of Biswa Ijtema.
Maulana Zubair Hassan, imam of the capital’s Kakrail mosque and leader of a faction of Tabligh Jamaat, administered the prayer.
The Akheri Munajat or final prayer began around 11:06am on the bank of the Turag in Tongi, Gazipur. Devotees gathered there from across the world and prayed for world peace, spiritual progress, happiness, and welfare of the Muslim community.
Many people of the country, who do not have the ability to go to Saudi Arabia for hajj due to health and financial constraints, consider the Ijtema as an alternative.
People in vehicles, on boats and rooftops in the area also raised their hands as the imam administered the prayer through loudspeakers.
PM JOINS MUNAJAT
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina joined the prayers of the 55th Biswa Ijtema from the Gono Bhaban, BSS reports.
She was accompanied by her younger sister Sheikh Rehana.
RESTRICTION ON TRAFFIC
Dhaka-Mymensingh highway between Turag bridge and Bhogra was closed to traffic until 4:00pm. Several nearby roads were also closed.
The authorities operated 30 shuttle buses from Bhogra to Gazipur intersection for those who attended the Akheri Munajat.
Nine elderly devotees died due to age-related complications and cardiac arrest on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, said Deputy Commissioner of Gazipur Metropolitan Police Manzur Rahman.
A total of 100 couples were married Saturday afternoon.
Police, Rab and intelligence officials have been deployed in the adjacent areas for security. The authorities set up over 400 CCTV cameras, 25 watch towers and 11 check posts.
The second phase of Ijtema will be held from January 17-19.
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