THE THREE-DAY Bishwa Ijtema began at Tongi yesterday with the participation of hundreds of thousands of devotees from home and abroad amid a disturbing political chaos which is sweeping the country. The congregation is being held in two phases to accommodate huge numbers of people on 160 acres of land on the banks of the river Turag. Around 20,000 foreign devotees from different countries are attending the congregation. People especially of older ages face various health related complications at the Ijtema because of cold every year, which even lead to casualties. Bishwa Ijtema organised by Tablig-e-Jamaat has become a yearly event since 1967.Sermons are made on the fundamental issues of Tablig, prayers are offered at the Ijtema for the spiritual adulation, exaltation and welfare of the Muslim Ummah. For the fourth time this congregation was split into two phases. The first phase starts on January 9-11 for participants from 32 districts and the second phase starts on January 16-18 for participants from the rest of the districts of the country. As reported, multi-tier security measures have been taken to avert untoward incidents. More than 12,000 forces have been deployed, watch towers and CCTVs have been set up to maintain law and order. Steps have been taken for sanitation, health, and other relevant services.The on-going political impasse related security-fears have been a source of mental stress for the devotees coupled with the discomforts of travelling which could have been avoided had the government been responsible and respectful to popular wishes or interests. The participants have come together to pray force wellbeing of Muslims everywhere.
