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Four-day Biswa Ijtema begins today

Published : Friday, 15 February, 2019 at 12:00 AM  Count : 414
Staff Correspondent
Hundreds of thousands of devotees from home and abroad throng the banks of the River Turag as annual Biswa Ijtema, the second largest Muslim congregation after the Hajj, begins today. Thousands of tents have been erected to accommodate the devotees. photo: Observer

Hundreds of thousands of devotees from home and abroad throng the banks of the River Turag as annual Biswa Ijtema, the second largest Muslim congregation after the Hajj, begins today. Thousands of tents have been erected to accommodate the devotees. photo: Observer

Biswa Ijtema, one of the largest Muslim congregations in the world, begins on the bank of the Turag River at Tongi here on Friday. The Ijtema to be held for four days this time will begin with "a'm bayan" (general sermons) after Fazr prayers.
On the first two days, followers of Maulana Jubair Hassan will participate in the Biswa Ijtema on Friday and Saturday and they will leave the ground after Akheri Munajat on Saturday afternoon.
Later, the followers of Maulana Muhammad Saad Al Kandhalvi will take part in the Biswa Ijtema on
Sunday and Monday and conduct their Akheri Munajat on the last day.
Several lakh devotes are expected to offer Juma prayers on the first day of the Ijtema on Friday. Thousands of devotees from home and abroad started thronging the bank of the Turag River to take part in the religious event to seek divine blessings of the Almighty Allah.
Meanwhile, preparations for smoothly holding the Muslim congregation have already completed.
An eight-layer security measure has been taken for the event with the deployment of huge members of different law enforcement agencies in and around the Ijtema ground. The venue has been brought under CCTV surveillance.
There will be special train and bus services to ease the communication of the devotees.
Benazir Ahmed Director General (DG) of Rapid Action Barbadian (RAB) said they will not tolerate any group or individual engaging in chaotic activities during the 54th Bishwa Ijtema, slated to be held from February 15-18.
He said at a press conference held on the Ijtema grounds in Tongi, on Thursday. "Not even senior Tabligh Jamaat leaders will be allowed to disrupt the peaceful environment of Ijtema," "
"This year, the two feuding factions of Tabligh Jamaat met with ministry officials and reached consensus to jointly-hold the Ijtema in a single phase; which has presented a different kind of security challenge for us." DG said.
The RAB DG said the single-phase Ijtema has increased security risks this time around. "Every Ijtema poses a security challenge to law enforcement; this year the risk is higher as there will be no gaps between the times that Ijtema is held."
The security measures surrounding Ijtema have been undertaken with the single-phase Ijtema in mind, Benazir said. "
Benazir cautioned the thousands of devotees thronging to the Ijtema grounds to ignore anyone instigating rumours that might circulate on any kind of media; especially social media.
Gazipur Metropolitan Police Commissioner YM Belalur Rahman said the Ijtema ground is under CCTV surveillance and watchtowers have been set up to ensure security.
Members of law enforcement agencies are performing their duties while intelligence surveillance has been beefed up. "Though there's no specific threat, we've taken right security measures considering all aspects," he said.
Check-posts have been set up in lanes, intersections and all the entries of the ground, said the GMP commissioner.
Besides, free medical camps have been set up near the Ijtema ground to provide free health care services and medicines among the devotees.
State Minister for Religious Affairs Md Sheikh Abdullah and State Minister for Youth and Sports Zahid Ahsan Russel inaugurated the camps today.
The first phase of Biswa Ijtem was scheduled to be held from January 11 to 13 while the second one from January 18 to 20 last, but those were postponed due to the December-30 national election.
Later, it was decided that the Biswa Ijteam would be held once instead of two phases this year.
Tabligh Jamaat has been organising the Ijtema at the venue since 1967.
The Ijtema was held in two phases from 2011 to 2017 to ease the accommodation and transportation problem.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday greeted the Muslim devotees all over the world on the occasion of the Bishwa Ijtema, the 2nd largest congregation of the Muslims, beginning at Tongi today.
"The Bishwa Ijtema held on the bank of the Turag river at Tongi, on the outskirts of Dhaka, is contributing to the propagation and expansion of the core message of Islam," the Prime Minister said in a message on the eve of the Ijtema to be held in two phases from February 15-16 and 17-18.
The traditional non-communal spirit, hospitality and tolerance in Bangladesh would be presented before the world community through the foreign guests attending the Ijtema, Sheikh Hasina added.
The premier prayed for the happiness, peace and welfare of the countrymen and the Muslim Ummah and prosperity of the country on the occasion of the Bishwa Ijtema.
She wished all success of the four-day congregation.










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