Thousands of Muslim devotees joined Bishwa Ijtema on the bank of the Turag River in Tongi of Gazipur as the first phase of the congregation began yesterday.
Ijtema began in the morning, with the main sermon, known as Aam Boyan, given by India’s Mawlana Abdur Rahman after the Fajr prayers.
Even though the main sermon was given in Urdu, it was translated into Bangla, English, Arabic, Tamil, Malay and Turkish languages as Muslims from different countries joined the congregation.
As it was Friday, huge crowds who have no relation with Tabligh Jamaat gathered at the venue and patiently listened to the sermon.
The Jumma prayer was conducted by Mawlana Mohammad Jubayer of Kakrail mosque at noon. Apart from the venue, people joined the prayer on roofs of nearby buildings, on bus roofs, on footbridges, and on premises of different government and private organisations.
Along with locals, a number of lawmakers also joined the prayer. According to organisers, around 1.5 million people attended the prayer.
After the Asr prayers, India’s Mawlana Mohammad Joaher gave the sermon, which was followed by the sermon of Mowlana Mohammad Saad after the Magrib prayers.
Nurul Islam, a devotee, told the Dhaka Tribune the temperature slightly drops in the late hours of night but the cold is tolerable.
Gias Uddin, one of the organisers of Ijtema, told the Dhaka Tribune devotees from 17 districts and foreign nationals from 93 countries joined the first phase.
“We are expecting that the number will rise further,” he added. The Akheri Munajat will be held tomorrow, which will mark the end of the first phase of Ijtema.
Three devotees die
Three devotees died of age-related health problems at the venue on Thursday night, Firoz Talukder, officer-in-charge of Tongi police station, told the Dhaka Tribune.
The three are Nurul Islam, 72, of Kurigram, Joynal Abedin, 55, of Gopalganj, and Farid Uddin, 72, of Natore.
“Their namaz-e-janaza was held on the Ijtema ground and the bodies were sent to their hometowns,” added OC Firoz.
40 hawkers held
OC Firoz said 40 hawkers were detained from around the Ijtema venue yesterday as they were selling unhygienic foods to devotees. Legal action will be taken against them, he added.
Security measures
Sakhawat Hossain, senior assistant superintendent of Gazipur traffic police, said some 1,500 traffic policemen would be on duty in Gazipur and nearby areas during Ijtema.
Besides, around 60 closed-circuit television cameras were installed at the venue while police and RAB built 14 watchtowers by police and RAB.
Additional police forces were deployed to ensure security while RAB patrolled the venue using helicopters.
Dowry-free marriage
Like the previous years, dowry-free marriages would take place at the venue after today’s Asar prayers.
From yesterday noon, the organisers began registering names who wished to get married without dowry at the venue in the first phase of Ijtema.
Mobile courts
Some 10 mobile courts operated around the venue to check food quality in hotels and restaurants.
Rahenul Islam, additional magistrate of Gazipur, said mobile courts would operate every day in three phases to remove illegal structures and also to check the quality of food.