C T Online Desk: The first phase of the 58th Bishwa Ijtema on the banks of the Turag River in Tongi concluded on Sunday morning, emphasizing the message of drawing closer to Allah and following the path of the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH).
The final prayer, led by Maulana Zubairul Hasan Kandhlawi, Imam and Khatib of Kakrail Mosque, began at 9:11am and ended at 9:35am, lasting 25 minutes.
The prayer was conducted from a specially arranged platform on the eastern side of the Ijtema ground, with an estimated two million devotees participating.
From Saturday midnight, traffic restrictions were enforced, prompting thousands of devotees to arrive early Sunday morning, many on foot, to participate in the final prayer.
Habibullah Raihan, coordinator of the Ijtema organizing committee, said that Maulana Abdur Rahman Hedayet from India delivered sermons after Fajr, followed by Maulana Ibrahim Dewla, also from India.
Women also joined the prayers from outside the main grounds. Devotees like Aklima Akhter and Najma Akhter expressed their hopes for divine forgiveness, gathering under the flyover and participating from the roadside.
Public transport disruptions affected office-goers, especially on roads heading north from Tongi, as traffic was halted from Gazipur and Tongi.
Many struggled to find transport and had to wait for buses, while others laid mats and gathered on sidewalks for the prayer.
In previous years, the two factions of Tablighi Jamaat, led by Maulana Zubair and Maulana Saad Kandhalvi, held the Ijtema separately. However, this year, Maulana Zubair’s followers are organizing the event in two phases. The first phase concluded with Sunday’s final prayer, featuring devotees from Dhaka and 41 districts. The second phase will occur from February 3-5, including participants from the remaining 22 districts.
Following an 8-day break, Maulana Saad’s followers from India will hold the second segment of the Bishwa Ijtema from February 14-16, concluding with the final prayer.
Gazipur Metropolitan Police (GMP) Commissioner Dr Nazmul Karim Khan said that around 7,000 police personnel would remain deployed until devotees safely disperse. Officers in plain clothes are also stationed among worshippers for enhanced security. Transportation, including buses and trains, has been arranged to facilitate a smooth departure for attendees.
