Biswa Ijtema, the biggest Muslim congregation after Hajj, came to an end yesterday as its second and last phase was concluded with the Akheri Munajat.
Thousands of devotees converged on the Ijtema ground and its adjacent areas to pray together for the unity of Muslim Ummah and peace for humanity.
Indian Maulana Saa’d, also a senior scholar of Tablighi Jamaat, led the Akheri Munajat that began at 11:22am and ended at 11:54am.
Absolute silence descended on the Ijtema ground as the devotees raised their hands and the Maulana began delivering the final prayer in Arabic and Urdu.
The pin drop silence was only disturbed by devotees crying out loud with a sudden “Amin” as the Maulana prayed for forgiveness, divine blessings, prosperity and world peace.
In order to take part in the biggest Muslim congregation, especially in the final prayer, thousands of devotees braved the ongoing indefinite blockade and the cold wave that was sweeping across the country. Many people took position on the nearby footpaths, foot-over bridges and building rooftops finding no place on the Ijtema ground.
After the end of the Akheri Munajat, there was a heavy snarl on every roads and highways as devotees struggled to go home. Most of the devotees had to walk as there was no vehicles available.
Only a handful of pre-arranged reserved buses were seen to carry devotees.
“The blockade caused a lot of sufferings to the devotees. I came here by breaking my journey three times. But I don’t know what would happen now,” said Nasir Uddin, a devotee from Tangail.
Before the Akheri Munajat, a mass sermon was delivered by Indiam Maulana Saa’d and later it was interpreted into Bangla by Maulana Zobaer.
During a visit to the Ijtema ground yesterday morning, it was found that Ijtema goers were suffering a lot because of the sweeping cold. The ground was covered with dense fog and mist. Devotees who were not prepared for the cold and had no shed over their head were suffering the most.
The first phase of Biswa Ijtema began on January 9 and ended on January 11. With a 4-day break, the second phase began on January 16 and concluded yesterday morning.
Four die on the last day
A police constable named Owaj Uddin, 45, died on the road near the Ijtema ground Saturday night while being on duty.
He suddenly fell ill and was taken to the nearby hospital where the doctor declared him dead, according to the police.
Meanwhile, three Ijtema devotees were crushed under the wheels of a train in separate incidents at Kuril and Tongi areas yesterday morning.
The identity of the deceased could not be known immediately.
Quoting the locals, Railway police station Assistant Sub-Inspector Sirajul Islam said: “The devotees might have fallen under the train while crossing the railway tracks in the morning.”
Being informed, police rushed to the spot and recovered the bodies, which were later sent to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital morgue, said the police official. A total number of 19 devotees, including the police personnel, have died during the Biswa Ijtema.
