The second phase of Biswa Ijtema, one of the largest congregations of Muslims in the world, will conclude today (Sunday) with the offering of Akheri Munajat. Eminent Islamic scholar of India Moulana Muhammad Sa’ad is likely to conduct the Munajat which will start around 11:00am. Several thousand devotees from different places of the country have already reached the Ijtema venue on the bank of the Turag River to take part in Akheri Munajat while thousands more are on their way. Bangladesh Railway is operating 12 special trains on different routes while BRTC has arranged special bus service, including 30 shuttle buses, so the devotees can go to the Ijtema venue without any hassle, said Gazipur police super Mohammad Harun-or-Rashid on Saturday noon. Security measures in and around the Ijtema ground has been beefed up in order to ward off any untoward incident, he added. More than 8,000 members of different law enforcing agencies, including police, Rab and plainclothes detectives, are on security duty at the venue. Observation towers were set up to watch public movement while close circuit cameras have been installed at 17 entrances to the venue. Inspector General of Police AKM Shahidul Hoque visited the Ijtema venue on Saturday to inspect the security measures. The local administration has imposed a ban on the vehicular movement from Saturday midnight to Sunday afternoon at several points, including Tongi-Chandana Chourasta, Tongi-Mirer Bazar and Tongi-Ashulia, in order to avoid traffic congestion. Meanwhile, a mobile court on Saturday fined a number of traders around the Ijtema ground Tk1.96 lakh for selling adulterated and low-quality food items. The second day of the three-day congregation began on the bank of the Turag River after Fazr prayers on Saturday. Maulana Mohammad Khorshed of India delivered sermons after Fazr prayers while Maulana Sakib Hossain of Bangladesh translated those into Bangla. Meanwhile, four devotees died in separate incidents at the Ijtema venue on Saturday night. The deceased were identified as Nurul Alam, son of Syed Ali, hailing from Natherpetua village in Monoharganj upazila of Comilla district, Abdul Mabud Zoarder, son of Ekramul Haque Zoarder, hailing from Badurtola area of Chuadanga Sadar, Abdul Kader, son of Zabed Mollah, hailing from Char Adra village of Sarishabari upazila in Jamalpur district, and Akhlak Hossain, haling from Sunamganj district. Earlier, three devotees died of old age complications at the venue on Thursday night. Earlier, the first spell of the Biswa Ijtema, organised by Tabligh Jamaat, was held on January 8-10. — Gazipur, Jan 17 (UNB)
