Akheri Munajat today

The second phase of three-day Biswa Ijtema, the second largest congregation of Muslims after Hajj, will end today with Akheri Munajat (final prayers) on the banks of the Turag River in Tongi.

Thousands of Muslim devotees from home and abroad have already gathered on the Ijtema ground to join the Akheri Munajat.

Maulana Mohammad Jamshed of India’s Delhi is scheduled to conduct the final prayers between 11:00am and 11:30 noon, said Maulana Syed Wasiful Islam.

The 55th edition of the Biswa Ijtema began on Friday with "a'mbayan" (general sermons) after Fazr prayers with the participation of the followers of Indian Islamic preacher Maulana Muhammad Saad Al Kandhalvi.

On the occasion of the Akheri Munajat, vehicular movements will remain suspended from the Saturday midnight to Sunday afternoon on the Airport to Joydebpur intersection of the Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway, Mirer Bazar to Tongi bus stop of the Dhaka-Sylhet Highway via Gazipur and Kamarpara to Ashulia road.

Gazipur Metropolitan Police Commissioner Md Anwar Hossain said, “Traffic system will remain in place until the situation on the highway and road becomes normal after Akheri Munajat. Efforts have been taken so that the devotees participating in the Akheri Munajat can go home safe and sound.”

Earlier, the first phase of the Ijtema was held January 10 to 12 at the same venue.

Tablig Jamaat has been organizing the Biswa Ijtema on the bank of Turag river since 1967. Now, Ijtema is being held in two phases since 2011 to ease the accommodation problem.

Gazipur/Hasmot/AI