Biswa Ijtema ends with final prayers

The Biswa Ijtema, the second largest congregation of Muslims after hajj, has come to an end for this year with millions of devotees seeking peace and prosperity in their final prayers on the banks of Turag River in Tongi.

Maulana Zubayer, the imam of Dhaka’s Kakrail Mosque and a member of the Tabligh Jamaat Council, started reciting the 25-minute prayers at 10:20am Sunday.

The prayers were recited both in Bangla and Arabic this year.

Millions of devotees gathered in an area of 12 square kilometres.

Traffic was halted on the road stretching from Bhogra bypass to the Dhaka airport early on Sunday.

Photo: dipu malakar

Devotees struggled to find a spot to sit at the venue. Many squeezed inside narrow lanes and sat on polythene sheets to hear the prayers.

Women participated in the prayers from rooftops of buildings and factories in the area as they were not allowed to enter the congregation.

Educational institutions and factories located in the zone remained closed for the day.

The government pressed into service more than 200 BRTC buses and 19 special trains to transport devotees, said Gazipur District Information Officer SM Rahat Hasnat.

Photo: dipu malakar

Some 80 loudspeakers were installed across different roads in and around the area to air the prayers, he said.

Thousands of police personnel remained vigilant around the venue to tighten security for the prayers, said Gazipur Superintendent of Police Harun-Ur-Rashid.

The 53rd Biswa Ijtema, the second biggest congregation of Muslims after hajj, began on Jan 12 with the participation of thousands of Muslims who came from 17 districts.

After a four-day break, the second phase started on Friday with the participation of Muslims from 15 districts.