The annual Biswa Ijtema, billed as the largest annual Islamic event only after the hajj pilgrimage, began on Friday at Tongi on the outskirts of Dhaka amid tight security. The World Congregation of Muslims, that shuns politics and is being held in two phases like the previous year, kicked off in the morning on the sandy bank of the Turag River. The first phase will run through to Jan 15 and the second one from Jan 20 to Jan 22, during which the faithful pray and listen to religious scholars. It was launched by Tablig Jamaat, a non-political group that urges people to follow Islam in their daily lives.
Thousands of Muslims seeking peace and the revival of Islam's tenets joined the inaugural session begun after Fazr prayers with a lecture by Pakistani Hazi Abdul Wahab. Huge columns of devotees began streaming towards the gathering site from dawn, braving overcrowded buses and ferries and endured long delays and dense fog. Dressed in traditional robes and prayer caps, thousands, from far-flung villages and towns and across the world, started gathering at the ground even from Thursday. Ijtema's appeal has grown largely over the years among those who cannot afford to go to Makkah for the hajj. Heavy security is in place to ensure safety. Junior home minister Shamsul Hoque Tuku has visited the Ijtema ground to see the security. A large number of police, Ansar and RAB personnel have been deployed around the venue to ensure security of the devotees. President Zillur Rahman and prime minister Sheikh Hasina have issued statements on this occasion. The first phase will end with Sunday's Akheri Munajat or final prayer. Muslims of 32 districts are taking part in the first phase of this gathering. The second phase will begin after a four day gap on Jan 20. On Jan 22, this annual world gathering would end with Akheri Munajat. Biswa Ijtema has been taking place in Bangladesh (then Bengal) since the 1960s. At the beginning, it would take place at Dhaka's Kakrail mosque. Then, in 1948 it took place at Haji Camp in Chittagong and in 1958, it took place in Narayanganj's Shiddhirganj. With increase in number of people attending it, in 1966, the Biswa Ijtema was held at the bank of Turag in Tongi. From then on, it has been taking place there. The country's biggest Juma prayer was held on Friday, the first day of Biswa Ijtema. People have been gathering from all over the country to attend this congregation which is totally informal and is not presided over by anyone. PRESIDENT, PM LAUD GATHERING The president in his statement welcomed foreign guests and said, "This great congregation is playing an important role in spreading Islamic morals and the teachings of 'Sunnah' among the residents of the world. "To enforce peace, unity, solidarity and brotherhood in the Muslim world, the Biswa Ijtema is really important. Everyone should be inspired by great Islamic ideals and devote themselves to the welfare of humanity." The prime minister in her message said, "Through the foreign guests attending the Ijtema, our long cherished non-communal mentality, natural mildness, hospitality and tolerance will reach the world. IJTEMA GROUND One of the organisers, Mohammad Gias Uddin, said the 160-acre ground has been covered with canopy stretching more than a kilometre. Though cooking materials could not be managed for local Muslims, a separate tin-roofed area has been earmarked on the venue's north-west side with gas, electricity, telephone and other modern facilities for foreign devotees, he added. The whole ground has been divided in 39 khitas or blocks marked for 64 districts in the first phase and 38 khitas in the second. Eight bridges have been thrown up on the Turag, supervisor of pontoon bridge construction major Mohammad Emran Islam Bhuiyan said. SECURITY Tongi has been covered with a multi-layer security blanket thrown by police, elite Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Ansar and intelligence agencies. Deputy commander of RAB-1 major Mohammad Nishadul Islam Khan said more RAB personnel have been deployed for security this year than the previous years. They have divided the Ijtema ground and its surrounding areas in five sectors, he said. RAB helicopters will hover in the sky in the six days of the two-phase Ijtema, the RAB official said. Members of the elite force in plainclothes are watching over each block, too, he added. River patrol teams started work on Thursday, patting down those entering the ground and watching from towers. Moreover, security personnel have mingled with the devotees in the blocks, dressed in white and wearing special cap. RAB bomb squad members are also on the ground. Gazipur police superintendent Abdul Baten said a total 10,000 security personnel including RAB and police are working to ensure safety at the Ijtema ground. Overall security is being monitored with several RAB and police close circuit cameras. TRAFFIC CONTROL Traffic is being controlled to ensure safe transportation of the devotees. Government-run Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) is operating single- and double-decker buses between Jan 12 and 24 to facilitate easy movement of pilgrims to and from the congregation.
Thousands of Muslims seeking peace and the revival of Islam's tenets joined the inaugural session begun after Fazr prayers with a lecture by Pakistani Hazi Abdul Wahab. Huge columns of devotees began streaming towards the gathering site from dawn, braving overcrowded buses and ferries and endured long delays and dense fog. Dressed in traditional robes and prayer caps, thousands, from far-flung villages and towns and across the world, started gathering at the ground even from Thursday. Ijtema's appeal has grown largely over the years among those who cannot afford to go to Makkah for the hajj. Heavy security is in place to ensure safety. Junior home minister Shamsul Hoque Tuku has visited the Ijtema ground to see the security. A large number of police, Ansar and RAB personnel have been deployed around the venue to ensure security of the devotees. President Zillur Rahman and prime minister Sheikh Hasina have issued statements on this occasion. The first phase will end with Sunday's Akheri Munajat or final prayer. Muslims of 32 districts are taking part in the first phase of this gathering. The second phase will begin after a four day gap on Jan 20. On Jan 22, this annual world gathering would end with Akheri Munajat. Biswa Ijtema has been taking place in Bangladesh (then Bengal) since the 1960s. At the beginning, it would take place at Dhaka's Kakrail mosque. Then, in 1948 it took place at Haji Camp in Chittagong and in 1958, it took place in Narayanganj's Shiddhirganj. With increase in number of people attending it, in 1966, the Biswa Ijtema was held at the bank of Turag in Tongi. From then on, it has been taking place there. The country's biggest Juma prayer was held on Friday, the first day of Biswa Ijtema. People have been gathering from all over the country to attend this congregation which is totally informal and is not presided over by anyone. PRESIDENT, PM LAUD GATHERING The president in his statement welcomed foreign guests and said, "This great congregation is playing an important role in spreading Islamic morals and the teachings of 'Sunnah' among the residents of the world. "To enforce peace, unity, solidarity and brotherhood in the Muslim world, the Biswa Ijtema is really important. Everyone should be inspired by great Islamic ideals and devote themselves to the welfare of humanity." The prime minister in her message said, "Through the foreign guests attending the Ijtema, our long cherished non-communal mentality, natural mildness, hospitality and tolerance will reach the world. IJTEMA GROUND One of the organisers, Mohammad Gias Uddin, said the 160-acre ground has been covered with canopy stretching more than a kilometre. Though cooking materials could not be managed for local Muslims, a separate tin-roofed area has been earmarked on the venue's north-west side with gas, electricity, telephone and other modern facilities for foreign devotees, he added. The whole ground has been divided in 39 khitas or blocks marked for 64 districts in the first phase and 38 khitas in the second. Eight bridges have been thrown up on the Turag, supervisor of pontoon bridge construction major Mohammad Emran Islam Bhuiyan said. SECURITY Tongi has been covered with a multi-layer security blanket thrown by police, elite Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Ansar and intelligence agencies. Deputy commander of RAB-1 major Mohammad Nishadul Islam Khan said more RAB personnel have been deployed for security this year than the previous years. They have divided the Ijtema ground and its surrounding areas in five sectors, he said. RAB helicopters will hover in the sky in the six days of the two-phase Ijtema, the RAB official said. Members of the elite force in plainclothes are watching over each block, too, he added. River patrol teams started work on Thursday, patting down those entering the ground and watching from towers. Moreover, security personnel have mingled with the devotees in the blocks, dressed in white and wearing special cap. RAB bomb squad members are also on the ground. Gazipur police superintendent Abdul Baten said a total 10,000 security personnel including RAB and police are working to ensure safety at the Ijtema ground. Overall security is being monitored with several RAB and police close circuit cameras. TRAFFIC CONTROL Traffic is being controlled to ensure safe transportation of the devotees. Government-run Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) is operating single- and double-decker buses between Jan 12 and 24 to facilitate easy movement of pilgrims to and from the congregation.
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