Lakhs join Jumma prayers at Ijtema ground

Lakhs of pilgrims and a large number of people from the capital Dhaka and adjacent areas joined Jumma prayers Friday on Biswa Ijtema ground on the eastern bank of Turag.

The first phase of Biswa Ijtema, the second largest congregation of the Muslims after Hajj, began on Friday morning at Tongi, on the outskirts of the capital Dhaka.

The congregation started formally with religious sermons after Fajr prayers.

The congregation, organized by Tablig Jamaat, will conclude on Sunday through the final prayers `Akheri Munajat`.

President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have given separate messages on the eve of the Ijtema.

They have greeted all the devotees and wished success of the event.

Gazipur Metropolitan Police Commissioner Md Anwar Hossain said adequate measures have been taken to ensure security for the participating devotees.

Gazipur City Corporation, district administration, police, RAB and Ansar and VDP have set up five separate control rooms to monitor the overall activities of the Tongi Ijtema.

The second phase of the Tongi Ijtema will begin on January 17 at the same venue and it is scheduled to end with Akheri Munajat (final prayers) on January 19.

Tablig Jamaat has been organizing the Ijtema at this venue since 1967. However, the Ijtema is held in two phases since 2011 to ease the accommodation problem.

 

Gazipur/Hasmot/Mukul