Akheri Munajat today

Four million expected to join
Tens of thousands of Muslims braving cold and fog are on way to join the Akheri Munajat today at the Biswa Ijtema ground on the bank of river Turag that has already turned into a human sea.
The three-day Biswa Ijtema will conclude with the offering of Akheri Munajat today, the main feature of the annual gathering of Muslim devotees. People are rushing to Tongi to join the prayer seeking divine blessings.
Meanwhile, six more devotees died of old age complications yesterday. While two deaths on the first day, eight devotees have died so far.
President Mohammad Zillur Rahman, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and leader of the opposition in Parliament Khaleda Zia, cabinet members and leaders of different political parties are expected to join the Akheri Munajat.
The three-day annual mammoth Islamic congregation began on Friday with ‘Aam Bayan’ by Maulana Miaji Azmat of India after Fajar prayers.
According to organiser sources some 24,942 devotees from 80 foreign countries are attending the Ijtema.
Islamic scholars from different Muslim countries, including Pakistan, India, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman, Jordan, Morocco, Bahrain, Algeria, Palestine, Yemen, Iraq and Lebanon are delivering their sermons, which are being instantly translated into Bangla, English and a few other languages.
The scholars are delivering sermons on various aspects of Islam, especially Namaz, Roza, Iman and Akherat.
Five of the devotees who died on the Ijtema ground yesterday were identified as M Shamsuddin, 60, and Haji Makbul, 65, of Mymensingh district, M Raziuddin Akanda, 62, of Barisal district, M Sahar Ali Mollah, 70, of Rajshahi district, and Nurul Islam, 65, of Cox’s Bazar district.
Earlier, two devotees-Badiuzzaman, 65, of Munshiganj district and Niazuddin, 62, of Mymensingh district -died on Thursday night and early Friday.
The organisers expect that the number of participants this year might be four million during the Akheri Munajat.
Hospital sources said at least 83 devotees were admitted to the Tongi hospital due to various diseases.
Meanwhile, police arrested a total of 50 alleged pick-pocket from inside and outside the Ijtema ground.
bdnews24.com adds: According to Ijtema tradition, dowry-free weddings will be conducted after Asar prayers on Saturday.
The mass weddings will be held beside the Bayan stage with the consent of the brides and bridegrooms and their guardians, the organisers said.
Ijtema organiser and Tabligh Jamaat leader Abdul Kuddus told bdnews24.com that they were expecting more than 100 couples to get married.
Medical tents saw many devotees with cold-related and water borne diseases.
Md Nazrul Islam, duty doctor of the RAB medical centre, told bdnews24.com the patients were coming to them with complaints of cold, cough, fever and diarrhoea.
The President is expected to attend the final prayers on Sunday at the north-western side of the Ijtema ground, beside the prayer stage, said the organisers.
Arrangement for the prime minister has been made adjacent to the Bata factory premises, they said.
The opposition leader will offer her prayers at the Atlas Motors factory area.
Arrangements have also been made for ministers, MPs and top bureaucrats, said Abul Bashar Mohammad Ameer Uddin, administrative officer of the Ijtema venue.
The Dhaka Metropolitan Police headquarters said all traffic movements would remain suspended on Airport Road from Tongi’s Abdullahpur to Kuril’s Pragati Sarani bus stand and on the opposite side up to Gazipur’s Chandana for 24 hours (from 6.00pm Saturday to 6.00pm Sunday). However, air passengers and vehicles carrying flight crew, ambulances and fire service vehicles will be allowed.
Md Habibur Rahman, traffic inspector of Gazipur, said vehicles bound for Dhaka from Ashulia have been asked to use the Mirpur-Savar route instead of Airport Road and vehicles coming from Mymensingh were asked to use Chandra and Nabinagar roads via Chandana crossing.

Courtesy of The Independent