The first phase of the 54th Bishwa Ijtema has ended with the Akheri Munajat (final prayers), with thousands of devotees seeking blessings for the Muslim Ummah.
The Munajat started around 10:40am on Saturday.
Imam of Kakrail Masjid in Dhaka, Maulana Zobaer, led the Munajat in both Bangla and Arabic, which ended at 11:10am. The Maulana also delivered sermons at the end of the special prayers.
After the Munajat ended the followers of Maulana Zobaer started leaving the Ijtema grounds.
Followers of Maulana Saad will commence the second phase of the Ijtema on February 17, at the same venue, and it is scheduled to end with Akheri Munajat on February 18.
The Akheri Munajat was live-telecast on TV and the internet, allowing devotees at home and abroad to participate. Educational institutions, industries, markets, shops and offices in Tongi, Gazipur, and Uttara, were closed due to the Munajat.
A devotee prays during the Akheri Munajat on Saturday; February 16, 2019 | Dhaka Tribune
Thousands of devotees started to throng to the Ijtema grounds on Saturday morning to take part in the Akheri Munajat. Before 9am, the Ijtema grounds were at full capacity.
Those who could not stand on the Ijtema grounds took position on nearby rooftops and in alleys, while those who could not reach the grounds stood on the Kamarpara road and Dhaka-Mymensingh highway.
The devotees spread for 3-4km around the Ijtema grounds.
Thousands of female devotees also began to gather near the Ijtema grounds, inside mills and industries, on houses and on rooftops, to take part in the Munajat.
The Directorate of Mass Communication set up microphones from the Ijtema grounds to Abdullahpur and Airport Road, while the Gazipur Information Office set up microphones from the grounds to Cherag Ali, Tongi rail station, from Station road to Shahid Ahsanullah Master flyover, and nearby alleys.
Devotees flock to the capital to attend the Akheri Munajat to end the first phase of Ijtema at Tongi Railway Station on Saturday; February 16, 2019 | Focus Bangla
Gazipur Metropolitan Police Commissione,r YM Belalur Rahman, said: “Extensive security measures were taken in and around the Ijtema grounds to maintain law and order for the Munajat. As transportation was limited, many Muslims were seen walking towards the Ijtema grounds to offer Fajr prayers and participate in the Munajat.”
Earlier on Friday morning, the first phase of the Ijtema began with Aam Bayan (general sermons) by noted scholars after Fajr prayers on the banks of the Turag River in Tongi.
Allama Shafi arrives by helicopter
Amir of Hefazat-e-Islam, Allama Shah Ahmad Shafi, arrived in Tongi by helicopter around 12:30pm on Friday. The helicopter landed inside the Bata shoe factory.
Shafi was attended by his son, Publicity Secretary of Hefazat-e-Islam, Maulana Anas Madani. After getting down from the helicopter, Shafi reached the Ijtema grounds on Gazipur City Corporation Mayor Md Jahangir Alam's car.
Tongi police station Officer-in-Charge (OC), Kamal Hossain, said: "After reaching the Ijtema grounds, Shafi attended the Jummah prayer. He stayed until the completion of the Akheri Munajat.
People carrying their belongings walk to and from Tongi Ijtema ground on Saturday;
February 16, 2019 | Dhaka TribuneThe next Bishwa Ijtema will be held in two phases on 10, 11 and 12 January and 17, 18 and 19 January, 2020, respectively, the senior Tabligh Jamaat leaders announced.
Two devotees have died while attending the Ijtema. Md Abul Hossain, 55, died on Saturday in the Kadamtola area of Dhaka, while Abdur Rahman, 55, died on Friday afternoon.
Since 1967, Tabligh Jamaat has been organizing the Ijtema in Tongi.
However, since 2011, Tabligh Jamaat had been organizing the Ijtema in two phases to ease accommodation problems.
This year, after the decision was made to hold the Ijtema in a single phase within four days, security measures were increased to ensure it was held in a peaceful manner.
