Two slots - from January 31 to February 2 and February 7 to 9 next year - have been selected for the Bishwa Ijtema, one of the largest gathering of the Muslim devotees after Hajj arranged by the followers of Tabligh Jamaat, to be organized at Tongi Ijtema ground in Gazipur.
The followers of Maulana Saad Kandhalvi will join the first phase of Ijtema while the second phase would be organized for the followers of Maulana Zubair Hasan in accordance with the tradition of last few years.
Home Adviser Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury on Monday made the announcement of the schedule after a meeting with two factions of the Tabligh Jamaat and senior high officials held at the Home Ministry.
Among others, Religious Affairs Adviser Dr. AFM Khalid Hossain, Industries Adviser Adilur Rahman Khan, Information and Broadcast Adviser Nahid Islam, Chief Adviser's Security Affairs Special Assistant Lt. General (rtd) Abdul Hafiz, Home Ministry's Senior Secretary Dr. Mohammad Abdul Momen were also present in the meeting.
Followers of Maulana Saad Kandhalvi attended the meeting while representatives of Maulana Zubair Hasan were absent.
Jahangir Alam said, "The first phase of Biswa Ijtema will be held from January 31 to February 2 and the second phase will take place on February 7 to 9. The meeting has finalized the decision with the opinion of the organisers. If necessary, further meeting will be held with as we do not want division among the Alems (scholars)."
He said the meeting discussed several issues including the ground preparedness, law and order, handover of the ground, providing visa to guests and devotees, overall safety of VVIPs, VIPs, traffic control, and setting up control rooms, water supply and sewerage system.
