Biswa Ijtema: Akheri Munajat of first phase today
The first phase of three-day Biswa Ijtema, the second largest Muslim congregation after the Hajj, is going to end today with the Akheri Munajat (concluding prayer) seeking spiritual well-being and welfare of the Muslim Ummah.
Noted Islamic scholar Maulana Muhammad Saad from India is expected to lead the munajat starting between 10:00am and 11:00am, said the Ijtema organisers.
Before that, he will deliver a sermon on the importance of Islam based on the Quran and Hadith. The Ijtema's second phase will start on January 20 and conclude on January 22 with the Akheri Munajat.
Several million devotees, including foreigners from different countries, are likely to turn out for the Akheri Munajat on the Turag banks in Tongi of Gazipur.
Ignoring cold weather yesterday (the second day of the first phase), religious scholars from home and abroad delivered sermons on Islamic philosophy in the light of the holy Quran and Hadith.
Saleh Uddin Ahmed, assistant superintendent of police of traffic division of Gazipur, said vehicular movement would remain suspended between Bhogra Bypass and Tongi Bridge on Dhaka-Mymensingh highway, Majukhan bridge and Station Road on Kaliganj-Tongi Road, and Kamarpara bridge and Munnu Textile Mill on Kamarpara road from early mornings of the days when the Akheri Munajat of the two phases would be held.
There will be special transports of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police to carry the air travellers to and from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
No water transport will be allowed to ply between Kamarpara bridge to Tongi bridge in the Turag from January 10-22.
Meanwhile, security has been beefed up ahead of today's Akheri Munajat. Around 6,000 uniformed and plainclothes police and members of Rab and intelligence agencies have been deployed in and around the Ijtema ground to ensure security of the devotees.
A devotee Tara Mia, 60, of Brahmanbaria, died of old-age complications early yesterday. With Tara, seven devotees have so far died at the Ijtema venue.
SM Rahat Hasnat, information officer of Gazipur City Corporation, said they were expecting that around 40 lakh local and foreign devotees would join the Akheri Munajat.
A high official of Bangladesh Railway said they would operate special trains to cope with the rush of devotees during the Akheri Munajat of the first and second phases of Ijtema.
Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) is also running special buses.
Tablighi Jamaat has been organising Biswa Ijtema, also called the World Muslims' Congregation, every year since 1946. In 2011, the organisers had split the congregation into two phases to deal with overcrowding, ensure better management and security.