GAZIPUR, Jan 21, 2018 (BSS) -The 53rd Biswa Ijtema, the second largest annual congregation for the Muslim world after the Hajj, ended here this morning with offering Akheri Munajat (concluding prayer) of its second three- day phase that began on Friday.
The first three-day phase of this year’s Ijtema was held from 12 to 14 January, orgainsed at its traditional venue on the banks of Turag River in Tongi, an industrial town on the outskirt of capital city Dhaka.
Thousands of devotees from home and abroad participated in this year’s Ijtema with religious zeal and devotion and braving the continuous cold wave.
Like the first phase, senior most Imam (Pesh Imam) of Kakrail Jame Mosque Hafez Mawlana Mohammad Zubaer conducted the concluding prayer of the second phase of the Ijtema, seeking peace, happiness and wellbeing of the country and the Muslim Ummah.
President M Abdul Hamid along with his officials and staff members joined the concluding prayers from Darbar Hall of Bangabhaban through a big digital screen as the prayer was telecast live.
From her official residence Ganobhaban in the capital city, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina joined the Akheri Munajat of the Ijtema’s first phase.
The Munajat for the second phase began at 10:30 in the morning and ended at 10:50 am, with participating over two million people from all walks of life, including cabinet members, lawmakers, professionals and political leaders.
The 20-minute Munajat was conducted in Arabic and Bangla.
Earlier, the Ijtema formally began with “ambayan” (general sermon) after Fazr prayers at dawn on Friday.
Besides ensuring supply of water, electricity and other amenities, foolproof security measures were also taken for ensuring comfort, safety and security for the participants of the Ijtema.
The next two phases 54th Biswa Ijtema has been scheduled to be held from January 11 to 13 and January 18 to 20, 2019 at the same venue.
Tablig Jamaat has been organizing the Biswa Ijtema on the bank of Turag River since 1967. Since 2011 the Ijtema is being held in two phases to ease the accommodation problem, an organizer said.