M M Jasim :The first phase of the Bishwa Ijtema ends today (Sunday) through Akheri Munajat (concluding prayers). It began on Friday on the bank of the River Turag at Tongi in Gazipur.Ministers, MPs and political leaders may join the concluding prayers.On the second day, a large number of devotees from home and abroad listened to the religious sermons delivered by the Islami scholars. The second day’s programme started with the delivery of sermons, prayers and welfare of the Muslim Ummah, and recitation from the holy Quran and Hadith.Maulana Ismael Hossain Godra from India delivered sermons after Fajr prayers and Maulana Abdul Matin from Bangladesh translated those in Bengali.Islami scholars delivered sermons on various aspects of Islam throughout the second day of the three-day Ijtema.Meanwhile, five devotees so far died at the Ijtema venue till Saturday morning.The deceased identified as Riaz Uddin,70, came from Austagram upazila in Kishoreganj district, Khairul Kabir,60, from Bhairab upazila and Kafil Uddin,65, from Naldanga upazila of Natore.Jahangir Alam,70, was a resident of South Badda in the capital and Abdus Salam,50, from Kittonia under Kapasia upazila in Gazipur district.Like the previous years, a dowry-free mass wedding ceremony was held yesterday after the Asr prayers.Muslim devotees from 32 districts of the country and 4,982 foreign nationals from 50 countries are participating in the first phase of the Ijtema, sources at the district Special Branch said.Rafiul Ehsan (56) from Pakistan told The New Nation that he came to Ijtema along with some 30 Pakistan nationals for love of Allah. “We believe that Allah can do everything. He decides everything. He sent us in the world to establish peace. He does not allow any conflict. Bishwa Ijtema is a symbol of peace and brotherhood. That is why we join the Ijtema almost every year,” Rafiul Ehsan said. Nasir Uddin (48) from Pabna said that he was very happy to take part in the Ijtema. He would stay here until the first phase of Ijtema ends. Special security measures have been taken to ensure security of the devotees. A larger contingent with members from various law enforcement agencies have been deployed in and around the Ijtema ground.Several watch towers have been erected at the entrances to the Ijtema ground.Harun-or-Rashid, Police Superintendent of Gazipur, said that the law and order situation was good. The law enforcers were keeping watch on the surrounding area round the clock. Many devotees crowded the free medical camps yesterday. Besides, 27 devotees were undergoing treatment at Tongi General Hospital while some others were shifted to different hospitals in the capital, hospital sources said.Meanwhile, leading Islamic scholars from India, Pakistan, Turkey, Malaysia and Iran delivered lectures in their mother languages on the first day of Ijtema. The lecturers were translated in Bengali.The Bishwa Ijtema has been being organised by Tablig Jamaat since 1946.The Ijtema is held in two phases from 2012 to ease accommodation problem.
