Bishwa Ijtema begins today

The first phase of the 55th Bishwa Ijtema, an annual event of Tabligh Jammat — one of the largest congregations of Muslims worldwide — is going to begin on the banks of the Turag River at Tongi, on the outskirts of the capital, today amid tight security.

This phase of Ijtema begins with Aam Bayan or public lecture by noted scholars after Fazr prayers today and will end with Akheri Munajat or final prayer session on January 12. 

The second phase of the Ijtema will commence on January 17 at the same venue and it is scheduled to end on January 19.

Devotees in thousands from home and abroad started thronging the bank of the Turag river to take part in the event to seek divine blessings.

Due to huge pressure of the devotees, about 15 kilometre road from Gazipur to Ijtema ground at Tongi witnessed huge traffic jam.

According to a decision taken in a meeting at secretariat on October 28, 2019, on the first two days followers of Maulana Jubair Hassan will participate in the Ijtema and the followers of Maulana Muhammad Saad Al Kandhalvi will take part the second phase of the Ijtema.

Tabligh Jamaat has been organising the Ijtema at this venue since 1967.

Bishwa Ijtema is hold every year since 1946. But, the organisers in 2011 split the Ijtema into two phases, dividing the participation of the 64 districts, to reduce pressure at the venue and ensure better management and security. 

But, due to quarrel between the two factions over the nomination of the chief of World Tabligh Jamaat, the Ijtema had been holding in two phases on the basis of following their faction leaders — one anti-Saad and the other Saad.

Meanwhile, all the preparations for smoothly holding the Muslim congregation have already been completed.

According to organisers and local administration officials, 14 police watchtowers and 10 RAB watchtowers have been erected to ensure overall security of the devotees. 15 gates were also built in important places of the ground. 

A total of over 8,500 police member will be deployed in five tire security in the Ijtema ground. 

In an instruction, Dhaka Metropolitan Police designated several points to be used for vehicles coming from different districts to join Ijtema.

The parking spaces are Gausul Azam Avenue, Sonargaon Janapath Square to Diabari Khalpar, Uttara sector-15 Khlapar to Diabari square, vacant spaces in Uttara sectors 17 and 18, Pratyasha Housing, Dhaur Bridge crossing, and vacant spaces in Nikunja-1 and Nikunja-2.

It banned parking on and along the roads during Ijtema between Rainbow crossing and Dhaur Bridge via Abdullahpur and between Rampura Bridge and Pragati Sarani.

The DMP fixed diversion at Mohakhali crossing, Hotel Radisson gap, Pragati Sarani, Kuril Flyover loop-2, Dhaur Bridge and entrance of Uttara sector-18 adjacent to Beribadh points, only for akheri monajat day on January 12 and January 19 from 4:00am.

During diversion it also requested all, except vehicles carrying airport’s operations and crews, fire service employees, law enforcing personnel and ambulances, to avoid the Airport Road and go for Mohakhali-Bijoy Sarani-Mirpur-Gabtoli route.

Under the management of DMP, two minibuses and two microbuses will be at the Nikunja-1 residential area’s gate from 4:00am to bring in and out passengers going abroad and coming back during the last day.

Bangladesh Railway will operate 14 special trains during the Ijtema, said a press release issued by the railways ministry on Thursday.

It will run Jamalpur-Tongi special train on January 11 and 18 and Dhaka-Tongi special train on January 10 and 17.

On January 12 and 19 railway will run five Dhaka-Tongi special trains, five Tongi-Dhaka special trains, two Tongi-Mymensingh special trains and one Tongi-Tangail special train.  

n Thursday morning, a devotee, Yakub Ali Shikder, 85, of Lakhirpar under Kotalipara in Gopalganj district died at the Ijtema venue, said Rezaul Karim, an organiser of Ijtema.

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net