Several lakh Muslim devotees are converging on the congregation venue and attending the prayers with reciting the name of Allah and hearing the sermons. The first phase of Ijtema will end with Akheri Munajat (finalprayers) on Sunday while the second phase will be held on January 31-February 2, reports UNB. The first phase of Biswa Ijtema, the second largest congregation of the Muslims after hajj, entered its 2nd day on Saturday with Islamic scholars from different countries delivering sermons on various aspects of Islam.
Maulana Haji Abdul Wahab of Pakistan delivered sermons in Urdu after Fajr prayers and Maulana Omar Faruk of Bangladesh translated those in Bengali.
Before the Asr prayers, a total of 108 couples yesterday got married through a traditional ceremony of the Tablighi Jamaat, which was administered by Maulana Zubairul Hasan.
Meanwhile, three devotees died of cardiac arrest and old age complications at the Ijtema venue from Friday night till early Saturday.
Of the deceased, one was identified as Jihad Ali, 60, of Daulatpur upazila in Kushita district while identities of the rest two could not be known immediately.
Besides, an unidentified devotee was injured in a gas cylinder explosion while cooking. The first phase of Ijtema will end with Akheri Munajat (finalprayers) on Sunday while the second phase will be held on January 31-February 2.
People from 32 districts are attending the 1st phase of Ijtema.
The districts are Dhaka, Gazipur, Sirajganj, Narsingdi, Faridupur,Rajbari, Shariatpur, Kishoreganj, Rangpur, Natore, Sherpur, Rajshahi,Gaibandha, Joypurhat, Lalmonirhat, Habiganj, Sylhet, Dinajpur,Chandpur, Feni, Chittagong, Rangamati, Khagrachhari, Bandarban, Bagerhat, Kushtia, Narail, Chuadanga, Jessore, Bhola, Barguna and Jhalakati.
The people of the remaining 33 districts (including Dhaka) will attend the second phase Ijtema.
Ijtema is being held in two phases from 2012 to ease accommodation Problems.
Gazipur police said, all vehicular movement except ambulance services and police vehicles on the Dhaka-Mymensing highway and Tongi – Kaligonj road will remain suspended on Sunday till Akheri munajat.
-With UNB/The Independent input
