The first phase of this year's Bishwa Ijtema (World Congregation of Muslims) ended today with the Akheri Munajat (final prayers), with thousands of devotees seeking peace, wellbeing and prosperity for the Muslim Ummah. The Biswa Ijtema is one of the largest gatherings of Muslim devotees, held on the banks of the River Turag at Tongi, just north of Dhaka.
The Munajat started around 11:10 a.m. Imam of Kakrail Masjid in Dhaka, Hafez Maulana Mohammad Zobaer, led the Munajat in Bangla and Arabic verses, which ended at 11:47 a.m. He also delivered sermons at the end of the special prayers.
Earlier, Mawlana Ziaul Haque from Pakistan presented ‘Hedayati Boyan’ (spiritual speech for guidance) and Mawlana Ibrahim Dewla from India presented special spiritual speech before the Akheri Munajat.
State Minister for Youth and Sports Zahid Ahsan Rasel, Gazipur City Mayor Md Jahangir Alam, former Dhaka North City Corporation Mayor Atiqul Islam and many distinguished personalities were attend the munjat, among others.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina joined the Akheri Munajat from her official residence Ganabhaban. Accompanied by her younger sister Sheikh Rehana, the PM took part in the Munajat.
State Minister for Religious Affairs Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah and officials and employees of the Prime Minister’s Office and Ganabhaban took part in the munajat from Ganabhaban.
Meanwhile, thousands of female devotees gathered around the Ijtema ground between Tongi Hospital field and station road, to take part in the Akheri Munajat, local media reported.
According to the Ijtema Organizing Committee, more than 1,900 devotees from 61 foreign countries took part in the first phase of Ijtema this year.
Later, Tablighi Senior Mawlanas, Aalmi Tablighi Shura Elders members, Mawlanas of Kakrail and Raibend and other top Ulama e Kerams held a discussion meeting today to fix the date of the next Ijtema to be held in 2021.
During the meeting, it was decided that the Bishwa Ijtema next year will be held in two phases. The first phase will be held from Jan 8-10 and the second phase will be held from Jan 15-17.
The Ijtema began after Fazr prayers on Friday with "Aam Bayan" (general sermons) by Pakistani Islamic scholar Maulana Obaidul Khorshed.
The second phase of the Ijtema 2020 is scheduled to begin on Jan 17 at the same venue and it will end on Jan 19. This phase is allocated for the followers of Indian preacher Maulana Saad Kandhalvi.
