With tears rolling down their cheeks thousands of devotees raised their hands chanting Ameen, Ameen, seeking divine forgiveness and blessings for peace and prosperity of all Muslim ummah as the 2nd phase of Biswa Ijtema on the bank of river Turag concluded on Sunday with Akheri Munajat.Maulana Jubayer Al-Hasan from India conducted the 16-minute Akheri Munajat which began around 9:54 a.m.Tens of thousands of devotees from home and abroad took part in the munajat on the bank of Turag River at Tongi on the outskirts of the capital.Devotees from 33 districts joined the prayers with scores of thousands more on the nearby rooftops of buildings and on open fields and roads.The huge gathering of devotees, who joined the Munajat, spilled over to areas around the Ijtema venue.The 2nd-phase Biswa Ijtema began on Friday with the deliberation of ‘Aam Bayan’ (general sermons) after Fajr prayers. Islamic scholars from different Muslim countries, including Pakistan, India, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates delivered sermons which were instantly interpreted into Bangla, English and a few other languages.Meanwhile, 10 devotees died of old age complications at the Ijtema venue from Friday till Saturday night.Like the previous years, a dowry-free mass wedding ceremony of 50 couples was held on Saturday at the Ijtema ground. Indian scholar Zobayerul Hasan conducted the weddings after the Asr prayers.The first phase of the Biswa Ijtema concluded on January 26 with the Akheri Munajat (concluding prayers). People from 32 districts attended that.
