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Published : 31 Jan 2025, 04:23 AM
Bangladesh Railways has introduced seven pairs of special trains to accommodate the influx of worshippers attending the Biswa Ijtema, set to commence on Friday in Tongi, Gazipur.
According to a statement released by the railway ministry on Thursday, these special trains will operate in two phases over six days, from Jan 31 to Feb 5.
In an effort to accommodate the influx of travellers, the railways authority will also attach additional coaches to express, commuter, and local trains where possible.
During this period, all intercity, mail express, and commuter trains—both inbound and outbound—will make a two-minute stop at Tongi station, with the exception of the Subarna, Sonarbangla, Cox’s Bazar, Tourist, and Banalata Express services.
Additionally, to streamline operations during the Ijtema, the weekly holiday for the Joydebpur commuter train has been rescheduled from Saturday to Friday.
The ministry has also confirmed that extra ticket booking counters will be installed at Tongi station, and an increased number of ticket checkers will be deployed to manage the anticipated surge in passengers.
A special pair of trains, known as the "Jummah Special," will operate during the first phase of the Biswa Ijtema on Jan 31 to accommodate Muslim devotees attending Friday prayers.
Jummah Special-1 is scheduled to depart from Dhaka at 9:30am, arriving in Tongi at 10:15am. The return service, Jummah Special-2, will leave Tongi at 3pm, reaching Dhaka at 3:45pm.
On Feb 2, the day of the final prayer of the Biswa Ijtema, four trains, named the "Dhaka-Tongi Special," will operate to manage the anticipated surge of devotees.
The first train will depart from Dhaka at 4:45am, followed by the second at 5am, the third at 5:25am, and the final service at 5:50am.
Five special trains will also depart from Tongi to accommodate the large number of worshippers returning home. The first train is scheduled to leave at 8:20am, followed by the second at 8:35am, the third at 9:42am, the fourth at 10:40am, and the final service at 11:07am.
In the second phase of the Ijtema, a special train will operate on the Jamalpur-Tongi route. This service will depart from Jamalpur at 9:15am on Feb 4, arriving at Tongi station at 2:15pm.
On Feb 5, the special train on the Jamalpur-Tongi route will begin its return journey, departing from Tongi at 12:20pm and arriving in Jamalpur at 5:20pm.
That day, four "Dhaka-Tongi Special" trains will again operate, with departures from Dhaka at 4:45am, 5:00am, 5:25 am, and 8:20am.
For the return journey, five special trains will run from Tongi to Dhaka. The first will leave at 8:20am, followed by departures at 8:35am, 9:42am, 11:07am, and 11:15am.
A special train on the Dhaka-Tangail route will also depart from Tongi at 12:50pm, reaching Tangail at 2:10pm.
The railway ministry has announced the suspension of several train services to accommodate the operation of special trains for the Akheri Munajat, the concluding prayer of the Biswa Ijtema.
On Feb 2 and Feb 5, trains 11, 12, 45, 46, 9, and 10 will remain out of service, along with the Turag Commuter 1 and 2.
The 75/76 Dhaleshwari Express and local trains 261, 262, 263, and 264 will be suspended on Feb 4 and Feb 5.
FIRE SERVICE BOLSTERS SAFETY MEASURES
The Fire Service has finalised its preparations to ensure fire safety and provide first aid at the Ijtema premises, aiming to safeguard the massive congregation.
According to a press release issued on Thursday, a total of 374 personnel have been assigned to oversee fire safety across the Ijtema grounds. In each designated area, two firefighters equipped with fire extinguishers, fire hooks, and fire beaters will remain on constant duty, ready to respond to any emergency.
The Fire Service has established two firefighting control rooms to oversee fire safety and monitor activities at the Ijtema premises, with a drone unit also deployed for continuous surveillance.
To ensure round-the-clock service, the Fire Service has opened two temporary control rooms. The public can access 24-hour assistance by calling 01901020865 and 02224410082, according to the organisation's notification.
To bolster fire safety measures, the government service organisation has prepared an extensive array of equipment for deployment at various locations across the Ijtema grounds.
This includes four water tankers, three ambulances, 14 pumps, 220 fire extinguishers, 13 generators, 128 walkie-talkies, 150 delivery hoses, and 14 branch pipes.
In an effort to prevent water accidents, the Fire Service has stationed a rescue speed boat and a four-member diving team in the Turag River, specifically under the Kamarpara Bridge.
Additionally, six pumps have been placed along the Turag bank, with five more pumps positioned in other nearby reservoirs to ensure a swift water supply for firefighting operations.
The Tongi, Uttara, and Joydebpur fire stations will be on standby throughout the duration of the Ijtema.
BISWA IJTEMA TO BE HELD IN TWO PHASES
Due to ongoing tensions between Maulana Zubair and Maulana Md Saad Kandhalvi, the annual gathering of Tablighi Jamaat will once again be held in two phases, as it has been in recent years.
The first phase of the Biswa Ijtema will begin on Friday, with the participation of Zubair's followers. This phase, like previous years, will also be conducted in two separate segments.
The first segment of the first phase will begin on Friday, Jan 31 and end on Feb 2, while the second segment will begin on Feb 3 and end on Feb 5.
The second phase of the Ijtema is scheduled to take place from Feb 14 to Feb 16, with the final prayer marking the conclusion of the gathering.
