The second phase of Biswa Ijtema, the second largest Muslim congregation after the holy Hajj, is set to begin today on the banks of the Turag in Tongi. The rituals will start after Fazr prayers. Several million devotees from home and abroad will join the three-day Ijtema.
A large number of people are expected to join the Juma prayers at the Ijtema venue today.
A multi-layer security system by uniformed and plainclothes members of police, Rab and intelligence agencies will be in place to avoid any trouble.
Like the first phase (January 11-13), the local administration has taken measures for smooth holding of the event. All the service providers are working to provide necessary support to the devotees, said Md Nurul Islam, deputy commissioner of Gazipur.
This year for the third time the rituals are being performed in two phases to enable smooth management and security checks for the mammoth Islamic congregation.
Devotees from 32 districts of the country along with around 25,000 foreigners from 89 countries including Pakistan, India, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Indonesia and Palestine joined the first phase of the Ijtema.
Organised by Tabligh Jamaat, the first Ijtema was held in 1946 at Kakrail mosque near the Ramna Park in the capital.
In 1966, the venue was shifted to the present ground in Tongi due to an increased number of devotees.
Courtesy of The Daily Star
