Biswa Ijtema extended by a day

Biswa Ijtema, now being held on the bank of the Turag river with the participation of the followers of Indian Islamic preacher Maulana Muhammad Saad Al Kandhalvi, has been extended by one day as heavy rain disrupted the congregation on Sunday, reports UNB.

The Akheri Munajat of the Saad followers will now be held at 10:00am on Tuesday instead of Monday, said deputy commissioner Dewan Md Humayun Kabir.

The duration of the Muslim congregation was extended following a request made by the Tabligh group, he added.

Earlier in the morning, the third day of 54th Biswa Ijtema began after Fazr prayers through 'Ambayan' (general sermons) with the followers of Maulana Saad taking part in it.

Indian Maulana Iqbal Hafiz conducted the bayan since morning and Maulana Abdullah of Kakrail Mosque translated it into Bangla on the bank of the Turag river.

However, an early morning shower disrupted the activities at the venue.

The capital and many other places across the country experienced rainfall coupled with hailstorm, thunderstorm and temporary gusty wind under the influence of seasonal low that lies over the South Bay.

On Saturday morning, the Akheri Munajat of followers of Maulana Jubair Hassan was held on the same ground. Maulana Jubair Hassan conducted the munajat from 10:42am to 11:06am.

The first phase of Biswa Ijtema was scheduled to be held from 11 to 13 January while the second one from 18 to 20 January last, but those were postponed due to the 30-December national election.

Later, it was decided that the Biswa Ijtema would be held once instead of two phases this year.

On 24 January, the government announced the schedule of Ijtema following a meeting with two factions of Tabligh Jamaat.

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

The Ijtema was held in two phases from 2011 to 2017 to ease the accommodation and transportation problem.