Devotees seek divine blessings at Akheri Munajat

Second phase starts Jan 18

 

Star file photo

Over a million of Muslims sought world peace and divine blessings for mankind and the Muslim Ummah as the first phase of Biswa Ijtema concluded on Sunday through the final supplication, Akheri Munajat.
Indian religious scholar Zobayerul Hasan led the 15-minute munajat at the Ijtema, the second largest congregation of the Muslims after the Hajj, on the bank of river Turag in Tongi.
Defying bitter chill and transport crisis, the gathering of devotees of all ages spilled over the adjacent roads and open spaces.
Hundreds of thousands of devotees from home and abroad joined the Akheri Munajat to pray for world peace, spiritual progress, exaltation and welfare of the Muslim community.
Road traffic on Dhaka-Mymensingh highway and Abdullahpur-Ashulia road remained suspended since morning with the sea of people walking towards the Ijtema venue.
A total of nine people died at the Ijtema venue since its beginning on Friday due to old age ailments, cold related diseases and different other complications.
A dowry-free mass wedding of 98 couples were solemnised at the venue on Saturday.
So far a total of 33 people were hospitalised.
The Ijtema, especially the final day, saw stringent security measures in and around the venue. About 12,000 security personnel have been deployed to ensure safety for the event.
Besides, hundreds of volunteers are working round the clock to make sure the event runs smoothly.
Devotees from 32 districts and over 8,000 foreigners from 116 countries are attending the first phase of the Ijtema.
The second phase is scheduled for January 18-20.
Tablighi Jamaat has been organising the annual congregation in Tongi since 1946.