Over a lakh devotees pray for peace in country, Muslim Ummah

The first phase of the 58th version of the Biswa Ijtema ended on Sunday on the bank of the Turag River with the Akheri Munajat (prayer), conducted by topmost leader of Tabligh Jamaat Bangladesh and Kakrail mosque Imam Maulana Zubayer Ahmed.

In the Munajat, the devotees offered prayer for the welfare of the country, nation and humanity.

The second phase for the followers of Maulana Zubayer starts today (Monday) at the same ground and it continue until Wednesday (February 5).
To facilitate the Akheri Munajat on Sunday, all educational institutions and industrial units in Tongi, Uttara, and adjacent areas remained closed. Some educational institutions of Dhaka city were also closed for the Munajat.

The Munajat, which was attended by over a lakh of devotees from home and abroad, started at 9:11am and ended at 9:35am.

Along with male, hundreds of women also took part in the final prayer staying at different mill-factories and households adjacent to the Ijtema ground.

Around 3,200 foreign guests from India, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Malaysia, Philippines, Australia, USA, Indonesia and China, among other countries joined the Ijtema as well.

The second phase of the Bishwa Ijtema is scheduled to be held from February 3 to 5. The third phase will take place from February 14 to 16 as followers of Maulana Muhammad Saad Kandhlawi will participate in it.

Visiting the area, it was found that thousands of devotees who were staying at the Ijtema ground along with other devotees arriving from different areas in Dhaka and Gazipur since Saturday night took part in the Munajat.

As the roads around the Ijtema ground were closed by Gazipur Metropolitan Police (GMP), devotees who had arrived only to take part in the Munajat did so by taking positions wherever they could find a place near the Ijtema ground.

As a result, the Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway and Kamarpara areas along with alleyways and rooftops of buildings in the area were packed with devotees taking part in the Akheri Munajat.

As the Akheri Munajat was broadcast on television and social media, many devotees from afar were able to join it.

Anisur Rahman, a devotee joining the Akheri Munajat from Gazipur's Kapasia, said, "I arrived at Joydebpur on a CNG-run auto-rickshaw at 4:00am and reached Bhogra Bypass on an auto-rickshaw. Finding no transportation from there, I walked up 12km and joined the Akheri Munajat from a place near the Ijtema ground. I have found solace as I was able to join the event."

Although there was no accommodation for women at the Ijtema ground, many women were seen taking part in the Munajat from adjoining areas.

Meanwhile, at least five devotees died at the Ijtema ground during the first phase, confirmed Ijtema Media Coordinator Md Habibullah Raihan.

Gazipur Deputy Commissioner Nafisa Arefin said, "Various government agencies including Gazipur district administration have worked together to ensure proper services to the devotees and their safety. I thank everyone as the event has ended peacefully and no untoward incident has taken place."