Staff Reporter :With the offering of Akheri Munajat (final prayers), the first phase of the three-day Biswa Ijtema ends today (Sunday) on the bank of river Turag at Tongi of Gazipur district, some 20km off capital Dhaka.Talking to journalists at the Ijtema venue Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Gazipur SM Alam said the Akheri Munajat will be offered between 10.30am and 11.30 am. Around 30 lakh people from all walks of life are expected to join the Akheri Munajat seeking world peace and solidarity of the Muslim Ummah, according to organisers. About 7,152 devotees from some 95 foreign countries, including India, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, Algeria, Oman, Yemen, Sudan, Palestine, Tunisia, Bahrain, France, Kuwait, Somalia, Kenya, Germany, Switzerland, Canada, the United States, Iraq and Iran are taking part in the congregation, said the organizers.A five-tier security system is already in place to ensure peaceful holding of the event,” the DC said.Meanwhile, two more devotees died on Friday night. The namaz-e-janaza of the two was held at the Ijtema ground after Fazr prayers on Saturday.President Md. Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, ministers, MPs, political leaders and senior officials are expected to join the final prayers along with millions of devotees.Bangladesh Nationalist Party Chairperson Khaleda Zia is unlikely to join the Akheri Munajat, according to party sources. She (Khaleda) is expected to join the final prayers from her Gulshan residence in city. Movement of vehicles on the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway and Tongi-Kaliganj road will remain suspended from 3:00am on Sunday for the concluding prayers, Police Super of Gazipur Mohammad Harun-ur Rashid told journalists.Besides, he said movement of all modes of vehicles from Abdullahpur to airport will also remain suspended. On Saturday, huge number of devotees, both from home and abroad, also continued to converge on the Ijtema venue for hearing the sermons from Islamic scholars.The second phase of Ijtema is scheduled to be held from January 15-17 on the same venue. Since 2011, Bishwa Ijtema is being held in two phases. Loudspeakers have been set up at all directions beyond the ijtema ground to facilitate people to listen as well as to participate in the Akheri Munajat.The Ijtema formally began with “Ambayan” (general sermon) after Fazr prayers at dawn on Friday. On Saturday, the second day of the Ijtema, passed off through discussions on various issues, including teachings of Islam and supremacy of Allah. The eminent Islamic scholars, in their sermons, have stressed on following the guidance of the holy Quran and the Sunnah. The sermons were translated into different languages of the world.
