First phase of Bishwa Ijtema begins

The 58th version of the Biswa Ijtema on the banks of the Turag River in Gazipur’s Tongi has begun with the participation of tens of thousands of devotees from home and abroad.

The formal opening of the religious gathering, seen as the second largest religious gathering after the Hajj, marked a start after the Maghrib prayer on Thursday by delivering sermons by Indian scholar Maulana Ibrahim Deolar.

After Fajr prayer on Friday, Pakistani Islamic scholar Maunla Ziaul Haque delivered ordinary sermons before the devotees.

Bangladeshi Tablig Jamaat’s leader Maulana Jubair will conduct the Jummah prayer, said Habibullah Raihan, media coordinator of Tabligh Jamaat Bangladesh Shurari Nezam.

Besides, Islamic scholars from home and abroad, including India, Pakistan and Jordan are scheduled to deliver sermons throughout the day to encourage devotees to earn the blessings of Allah by abiding by guidelines.

This year, the Ijtema, the congregation of Tablig Jamaat, will be held in three phases.

Starting from Friday, the first phase will continue till February 2 while the second phase will be held from February 3 to 5 and the third phase from February 14 to 16.

Supporters of Maulana Zubair Ahmed will attend the Ijtema from January 31 to February 5 in first and second phases while followers of Maulana Saad Kandhalvi will take part in the Ijtema from February 14 to 16 in the third phase.

Necessary arrangements, including sufficient water supply and healthcare, have been ensured.

The government has taken adequate security measures ahead of the first phase of the Biswa Ijtema.

Stringent security measures have been taken in and around the Biswa Ijtema ground spanning 160 acres of land.

"The security arrangements at the Ijtema Maidan and its surrounding areas have been strengthened much more than before," said Inspector General of Police (IGP) Baharul Alam after inspecting the security arrangements at the Ijtema ground at Tongi on Wednesday.

As part of the measures to make the security foolproof, members of police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and other law enforcement and intelligence agencies in uniform and plainclothes have been deployed in large numbers.

The entire Ijtema ground and its surrounding areas have been brought under CCTV coverage alongside installing control rooms and archways in every entry points to make the security foolproof.

A control room has been set up to monitor the overall security system in the Ijtema area around the clock. In addition, the overall situation will be monitored from the RAB headquarters.

Regular check posts are being set up at Cheragali Bus Stand, Tongi Kaliganj Road, in front of Uttara North Tower and in Ashulia Kamarpara area to search vehicles and passengers going to the Ijtema.

RAB's medical center in the Ijtema area remains open to everyone.

A sufficient number of RAB medical teams and ambulances are engaged in providing medical services to the arriving Muslims round-the-clock.