Bishwa Ijtema: Second phase will end tomorrow

The 2nd phase of three-day Bishwa Ijtema, the second largest global congregation of Muslims after Hajj, is set to end on the banks of the Turag river in Tongi on Sunday through Akheri Munajat (final prayers).

The 2nd phase of 56th Bishwa Ijtema began on Friday with "aam bayaan" (general sermons) after Fajr prayers with the participation of the followers of Indian Islamic preacher Maulana Muhammad Saad Al Kandhalvi.

Devotees from home and abroad thronged the banks of the Turag river to take part in the religious event to seek divine blessings of the Almighty Allah.

Today, Indian Islamic scholar Maulana Yeakub Ali conducted sermon after Fajr prayers.

Meanwhile, five devotees have so far died at the Ijtema venue during the 2nd phase as two more devotees died due to old age complications on Friday night and Saturday morning.

Health camps were set up for the devotees to provide them with treatment like the previous years.

Meanwhile, the metro rail service will run from 8am to 5pm on 22 January for smooth movement of the devotees attending the second phase of the congregation.

The first phase of the three-day Bishwa Ijtema ended on 15 January.

Tabligh Jamaat has been organising the congregation in Tongi since 1967. In 2011, it divided Ijtema into two phases to accommodate a large number of attendees.