The second phase of three-day long Biswa Ijtema, the second largest congregation of Muslims after Hajj, has begun on the banks of the Turag River at Tongi, on the outskirts of Dhaka.
The 55th edition of the Biswa Ijtema began on Friday with "a'mbayan" (general sermons) following the Fajr prayers with the participation of the followers of Indian Islamic preacher Maulana Muhammad Saad Al Kandhalvi, which was translated by Bangladeshi Maulana Ashraf Ali.
Several thousand devotees from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, India, Iraq, Turkey, and foreigner believers from Africa and America gathered at the banks of the Turag River in order to take part in the religious event to seek divine blessings of the Almighty Allah.
The three-day long second phase of Biswa Ijtema is expected to end on January 19 with Akheri Munajat (final prayers).
Additional police have been deployed in and around the Ijtema venue to ensure security of the devotees of home and abroad. The venue has also been brought under CCTV surveillance.
Meanwhile, the first phase of three-day long Biswa Ijtema ended on January 12 through the Akheri Munajat conducted by the imam of Dhaka's Kakrail mosque Maulana Zubair Hassan who prayed for the country’s welfare and continued growth, and peace for the Muslim Ummah in their worldly life as well as hereafter.
Biswa Ijtema, the second largest of its kind after Hajj has been organized by Tabligh Jamaat since 1967.