Preparation work to hold the 56th World Ijtema on the banks of the Turag River in Tongi from January 13 is going on in full swing to make the yearly event a success.
Already, the list of district-wise Khitas has been announced and 90% of the maidan work has been completed. Volunteers including members of Tabligh Jamaat are working day and night. By January 12, millions of worshipers from home and abroad will take their stand in the Ijtema field at the Khita designated for them.
The first phase of Ijtema will be held on January 13, 14 and 15, and the second phase on January 20, 21 and 22. Maulana Zobair will participate in the first phase of the Ijtema with followers of Maulana Saad Kandhalvi will participate in the second phase. The final prayers will be held on January 22.
After the 55th World Ijtema was held in 2020, the event remained suspended for the last two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Like every year, the sermon will be delivered in Urdu and will be translated into Bengali and Arabic along with the sermon for the convenience of the pilgrims from different countries.
Workers were seen setting up the stage and the prayer pulpit on the east bank of the Turag River on the west side of the ground on Friday. Moreover, rooms were being built for different purposes alongside installing separate rooms for the deaf people, and wiring for electricity and mic connection. The work of pulling the huge curtain over 160 acres land is almost complete.
Tongi and surrounding areas are in a frenzy of religious festivals around the three-day Ijtema to be held under the auspices of Alami Shura (Zubairpanthi). This time, except for the Khittar place designated for the devotees of Dhaka district, all other works are progressing rapidly.
The position of worshipers based on khita in the first phase of the maidan is the main task, top instructor of the World Ijtema Organizing Committee Dr Khan Mohammad Shahabuddin said. In addition, the kiadungs of khittas no 11 and 12 around the maidan, khittas no 12, 72, 73, 86 and 91 between khittas 32 and 37 have been kept as reserved.
Zaheer Ibn Muslim, information coordinator of the first phase of Ijtema, said several teams of Desco were working to ensure round-the-clock power supply to the event venue, international residence and related important facilities.
Dhaka TribuneAbout 300 closed circuit TV cameras have been installed in the entire maidan by the Gazipur Metropolitan Police (GMP) and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) for the security of the worshipper, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Tongi west police station Shah Alam said.
“The law and order situation of Ijtema ground will be monitored from the control room through CCTV. Members of the law enforcement agencies will be engaged in the overall security of the grounds,” the OC said.
On the other hand, the army is building a pontoon on the Turag River. Using this, the worshipers can travel from one place to the other. On behalf of the GCC, fresh water will be supplied daily to 12 tube wells through a 12-km pipeline.
Jahangir Hossain, director of Shaheed Ahsan Ullah Master General Hospital in Tongi, said an expert team would on duty while 14 ambulances would be deployed round the clock to transport patients.
Gazipur Metropolitan Police (GMP) Commissioner Molla Nazrul Islam said around 7,500 policemen would be deployed for the overall security of the Ijtema.
“The security of the entire Ijtema Maidan will be monitored from CCTV cameras, watch towers and rooftops. Besides, a large number of officers of police and intelligence agencies in plainclothes will be on duty in each Khitta along with specialized teams. Two fire extinguishers will be kept in each khitta for fire fighting. There will also be naval patrols in Turaga,” the GMP chief said.
Acting ayor of Gazipur City Asadur Rahman said that they had built about 8,500 temporary toilets. “Arrangements have also been made for supply of bleaching powder and 25 fogger machines. All kinds of measures will be taken starting from regular sprinkling of water and distributing mosquito repellents.
“There will be multiple teams working round the clock. They will work on any problem of the devotees.,” Asadur added.
Gazipur District Commissioner (DC) Anisur Rahman said that the district administration was providing full cooperation to make the two-phase Ijtema a success. For this, several preparatory meetings had been held with the officials of various departments.
