Gazipur Metropolitan Police (GMP) Commissioner Molla Nazrul Islam on Saturday said that GMP will close several roads after midnight to avoid traffic congestion as thousands of Muslim devotees will join the final day of Bishwa Ijtema in Tongi.
He made the statement at a press briefing at the Bishwa Ijtema ground at around 11:30am on Saturday.
The official said that the road near the capital's Abdullahpur Bridge to Baipail Road will be closed, which covers Tongi to Bhogra Bypass area. He suggested people who are travelling towards Dhaka take the 300 Feet Road.
For people travelling to Mymensingh or Gazipur, the official suggested taking the Joydevpur intersection from Baipal Road.
GMP“We spoke to the officials at Bishwa Ijtema ground, asked them to start the final prayer by 11pm. Gazipur Metropolitan Police and other police units are working together to ensure that everyone can complete Ijtema in a beautiful and orderly manner,” said the commissioner.
Foreign tourists' safety a priority
Mohammad Ilyas Sharif, deputy inspector general (DIG) of Tourist Police under GMP has said safety of the foreign devotees attending Bishwa Ijtema is a priority.
This is the first time the Tourist Police is working to provide security, protection, and service to foreign tourists at Bishwa Ijtema, added DIG Sharif.
“We have set up a control room and a hotline for emergencies,” the official added.
He made the statements at a press briefing at the Bishwa Ijtema ground at around 11am on Saturday.
The DIG said that so far they have received 5,286 foreign devotees from 66 countries attending the Bishwa Ijtema. “We are coordinating with them."
With recitation from the Holy Quran, the second day of the 56th Bishwa Ijtema on the bank of the Tongi's Turag River, began early on Saturday.
Thousands of devotees were seen throning the Bishwa Ijtema premises, the second largest congregation of Muslims after Hajj.
The first phase of the Bishwa Ijtema began on Friday after a two-year hiatus due to Covid-19.
Devotees from India, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Syria, Chad, Tajikistan, Turkey, Afghanistan, Palestine, the UK, and the US— also joined the congregation to listen to scholars reciting and explaining verses from the Quran and to renew their commitment to Islamic values.
The first phase of Ijtema will end on Saturday with Akheri Munajat (final prayers). The second phase of Ijtema will be held from January 20 to 22 this year.