Devotees seek divine blessings

Thousands of Muslims sought forgiveness and divine blessings for peace and prosperity for mankind as the first phase of Biswa Ijtema concluded today through the final supplication, Akheri Munajat.

Indian religious scholar Maulana Zubairul Hasan led the 20-minute munajat at the Ijtema, the second largest congregation of the Muslims after the Hajj, on the bank of river Turag in Tongi of Gazipur.

Braving cold and transport crisis, devotees of all ages from home and abroad including women swarmed the Ijtema venue, some 20 kilometers off the capital.

The gathering spilled over to the adjacent roads and areas around the venue, reports our Gazipur correspondent from the spot.

Traffic on Dhaka-Mymensingh highway remained suspended since yesterday midnight with the sea of people marching towards the bank of Turag.

During the munajat, many people took position on the roofs of vehicles and boats and rooftops of residences surrounding the Ijtema ground.

The educational institutions, offices and factories adjacent to the venue have been declared shut for today due to the Akheri Munajat.  

President Abdul Hamid, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad, members of different political parties, foreign dignitaries, and government high-ups joined the prayers while Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina participated the prayer through a video conference.

Meanwhile, three more devotees have died last night, taking the death toll to nine.

Siraj Miah, 50, of Bangshal in the capital, Samir Uddin, 75, of Golapganj in Sylhet and Kashem Ali, 57, of Dohar in Dhaka died of cardiac arrest between 11:30pm and 12midnight Saturday.

Six people including a Yemeni citizen died of various reasons on the Ijtema ground on Friday and Saturday. 

The second phase of the Ijtema will be held after a four-day gap from January 31 to February 2.

Tabligh Jamaat has been organising the annual congregation in Tongi since 1946.