Live Correspondent: The second phase of Bishwa Ijtema, one of the largest Muslim congregations of the world, began on early Friday on the bank of the river Turag in Tongi, on the outskirts of the capital Dhaka. This phase of 56th edition of the Biswa Ijtema began with the ‘a’m bayan’ (general sermons) after Fazr prayers with the participation of a large number of devotees.

The second phase, attended by followers of Muhammad Saad Al Kandhalvi, would end on January 22 with akheri munajat. The first phase took place at the same venue from January 13-15, which Tablig group Zubair Hassan’s followers attended.

However, Maulana Saad is not attending this year’s Ijtema. The sermons were delivered by Pakistani Islamic scholar Maulana Mohammad Osman which were translated into Bangla by Maulana Zia bin Qasim.

Thousands of devotees from home and abroad thronged the banks of the Turag River to listen to scholars reciting and explaining verses from the Quran and to renew their commitment to Islamic values.

Gazipur Metropolitan Police commissioner Molla Nazrul Islam said that the authorities took strict measures to maintain law and order during the second phase of Ijtema.

‘All the security measures we took for the first phase will also be available during the second phase. Members of special units, such as dog squads, bomb disposal units, helicopter patrol, and observation teams, will be on duty,’ Nazrul mentioned.

Saad would not be attending the Ijtema but his three sons, Yousuf, Sayeed and Ilias and son-in-law Hasan reached the venue on Thursday afternoon, said organising committee member Wasiful Islam.

‘For allegations of disorder and a lack of a permit, Saad could not attend Ijtema since 2019. However, his three sons will deliver a speech in the second phase this year,’ he said. The authorities will restrict vehicular movements around the venue ahead of akheri munajat on Sunday.

To facilitate the attendees, the metro rail will run non-stop from Uttara North station to Agargaon station from 8:00am to 5:00pm on January 22 to ensure a smooth journey for passengers, Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha reported.

The Tabligh Jamaat authorities split the Ijtema into two phases in 2011, dividing the participation of the 64 districts to reduce the pressure on the venue and to ensure better management and security.

But, due to a conflict between the followers of two factions over the nomination of the chief of the World Tabligh Jamaat in December 2018, the Ijtema has been held in two phases based on the following of the faction leaders. Tabligh Jamaat has been organising the Ijtema at the venue since 1967.

Dhaka, 20 January (campuslive24.com)// BSC