The first phase of Tabligh Jamaat's annual grand conference, the 57th Biswa Ijtema, is set to commence on the banks of the Turag River at Tongi in Gazipur on February 2.
The ongoing preparations include tarpaulin pulling, road repairs, low land-filling, and sewage works, all progressing rapidly.
Volunteers, including followers of Tabligh Jamaat, students, teachers from local educational institutions, and employees of various public and private organizations, are actively contributing to these efforts at the Ijtema ground.
The Biswa Ijtema will be held in two phases, attracting devout Muslims from different parts of the country who come together to form groups and offer voluntary alms.
The first phase, attended by followers of Maulana Jubayer, will conclude with the last prayer on February 4.
After a four-day break, the second phase, featuring followers of Maulana Saad, will begin on February 9, with Biswa Ijtema concluding on February 11.
Haji Mohammad Rezaul Karim Reza, the organizer of the Bayan Manch of Tongi Ijtema ground, informed that the main pandal is being set up on the west bank of the river and Diabari in Uttara along with the Turag bank of Tongi. Another stage is being constructed at Diabari, and speeches from the main stage in Tongi will be broadcast to the Diabari stage using modern technology.
Both grounds will participate in Bayan and Akheri prayers. The Diabari Ijtema Maidan spans 60 acres, with separate arrangements for the five daily prayers to manage the crowd and reduce inconvenience.
A visit to the Ijtema grounds revealed the construction of a large chat pandal on approximately 160 acres of land along the Turag River, accommodating Tabligh Jamaat members. The low land on the north-east and west sides of the Ijtema field has been elevated by adding sand, and a floating pontoon bridge on the Turag River is being constructed by the Army Corps of Engineers for pilgrim movement.
The Ijtema ground will feature designated areas for various activities, including power lines, gas lines, water pipe lines, water tank installations, bamboo pole installations, prayer spots, garbage cleaning, and pandal construction.
The stage and accommodation system for foreign guests have been set up with tin sheds and brick masonry walls in the north-west corner of the ground. Renovations have been made to drinking water facilities, ablution areas, bathrooms, and roads, with improvements to old tube wells and unpaved toilets.
Volunteers expressed their commitment to contributing to the Ijtema, driven by a sense of service to Allah and the desire to please Him. With ongoing construction activities, organizers are optimistic about completing the stage and other essential preparations in the coming days. They expect a significant turnout, estimating around 6 million devout Muslims to participate in the Akheri prayer, with multiple locations accommodating the attendees.
