Senior cleric Zubair Ahmed led the Akheri Munajat on Wednesday afternoon for his followers
Published : 05 Feb 2025, 02:32 PM
The second phase of the Biswa Ijtema has ended with thousands of people participating in the Akheri Munajat, or special prayer service, on the banks of the Turag River in Gazipur’s Tongi to wrap up one of the largest Muslim gatherings in the world.
Followers of Maulana Zubair Ahmed, identifying themselves as Tabligh Jamaat’s “Shura-e-Nezam” took part in the second phase.
Senior cleric Zubair led the Akheri Munajat for his followers on Wednesday afternoon. The devotees prayed for unity, peace and welfare for Muslims across the world.
The Munajat began after 12pm and continued for 20 minutes. The devotees prayed for enlightenment, unity, peace, and salvation for Muslims across the globe in this world and in the afterlife. They also prayed for Allah’s mercy and pardon for their misdeeds.
At 9am, Maulana Abdur Rahman from India delivered the first sermon of the day. Then Indian preacher Ibrahim Dewla delivered a speech..
People from the surrounding neighbourhoods headed to the Ijtema grounds after the Fajr prayer on Wednesday to take part in the Munajat. As the day rolled on, the number of people on the highway surged. Thousands of people had taken up positions on the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway as the day broke.
Many of them walked 10 km from Bhogra Bypass to the Ijtema ground as the huge crowd on the street prevented transports from running. The Ijtema ground was filled to the brim before the Munajat began.
People filled nearby lanes and alleys, roads, rooftops of houses and offices, Dhaka-Mymensingh highway, and Kamarpara road to take part in the prayer service.
Some people even prayed on the roofs of their vehicles or on boats on the Turag River.
Hundreds of women also participated in the Munajat from the rooftops of nearby houses, offices, and factories.
Thousands of foreign guests from Tablighi Jamaat units in other countries took part in this phase of the Ijtema.
The second segment of the first Biswa Ijtema phase started Monday with a general sermon called ‘Ambayan’ after the Fajr prayers. Followers of Maulana Zubair from different parts of Dhaka and 22 other districts participated.
The Zubair faction has held their Ijtema in two sections this year. The first began on Jan 31 and ended on Sunday.
The supporters of Indian preacher Saad Kandhlawi will hold their Ijtema event from Feb 14 to Feb 16. The Ministry of Home Affairs has allowed them to hold the gathering this year on the condition that, starting next year, they will find a different venue.
Gazipur Metropolitan Police Commissioner Nazmul Karim Khan said 11 special trains and additional buses have been arranged for the participants in the Akheri Munajat on Wednesday. Aside from five special trains - the Bonolota, Cox’s Bazar Express, Subarnolata, Parjatak Express, and Sonar Bangla - all other trains will stop at the Tongi Station.
Seven people have died during the Ijtema event so far, mostly due to old age complications or sickness.