The first phase of Biswa Ijtema, the second largest congregation of Muslims after holy hajj, concluded today (Sunday) with Akheri Munajat attended by millions of people at Tongi on the capital’s outskirt, amid countrywide non-strop transport blockade. Tablig Jamaat Sura member Maulana Sad from India conducted the Akheri Munajat at about 11:00 am. President Abdul Hamid attended the Munajat along with his family members from Bangabhaban. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina joined the final prayers from her residence Gonobhaban. BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia took part in it from her Gulshan political office, where she has been kept confined for the ninth consecutive day. Islamic scholars from different countries delivered sermons on various aspects of Islam. Several lakh Muslim devotees, both from home and abroad, converged on the congregation ground and attended the prayers with reciting the name of Allah and hearing the sermons. Five devotees died till the last day of the congregation, three of whom passed away on Saturday while the rest on Friday. Riaz Uddin, 70, a resident of Astagram upazila in Kishoreganj district, died at Tongi Hospital around 9:45am on Saturday while Khairul Kabir, 60, of Bhairab upazila in the same district, at the Ijtema ground at about 9:15am and Kafil Uddin, 65, of Naldanga upazila in Natore, died at about 12:45am. Jahangir Alam, 70, a resident of South Badda in the capital, died at about 11pm and Abdus Salam, 50, of Kittonia in Kapasia upazila of Gazipur district, died at 7:30pm on Friday. Like previous years, dowry-free mass marriages were solemnised after Asr prayers on the second day of the Ijtema. Muslim devotees from 32 districts of the country and 4,982 foreign nationals from 50 countries took part in the first phase Ijtema, sources at the district Special Branch of police said. There were special arrangements to ensure security of the devotees amid the countrywide non-stop blockade enforced by the BNP-led 20-party alliance.–UNB, Dhaka.
