The second phase of the three-day 53rd Biswa Ijtema, the second largest Muslim congregation after the Hajj, will end with "Akheri Munajat" (concluding prayers) tomorrow (Sunday) on the bank of the Turag River at Tongi, reports BSS.
Seniormost Imam (Pesh Imam) of the Kakrail Jame Mosque Mawlana Md Jubaer will conduct the concluding prayers seeking peace, happiness and wellbeing of the Muslim Ummah, said one of the organisers.
Around 2.0-2.5 million (20 to 25 lakh) people from all walks of life, including cabinet members, lawmakers, professionals and political leaders, are expected to join the Akheri Munajat of the second phase of the Biswa Ijtema before the Zohr prayers tomorrow.
The second phase formally began with "ambayan" (general sermon) after Fazr prayers at dawn on Friday (January 19) amid tight security.
Earlier, the first phase of the Ijtema ended on January 14 at the same venue.
Noted religious scholars in their sermons stressed following the guidance of the holy Quran and Sunnah. The sermons were translated into different languages of the world.
A total of six devotees, including two foreigners, have died at the Ijtema ground so far since beginning of the first phase due to old age complication and cold weather, Tongi Model Thana Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md Firoz Talukder told the news agency on Saturday.
"The two foreigner devotees were identified as Nesar Bin Rahman (55) of Malaysia and Abdur Rahman Jumba, (65), of Zimbabwe," the OC said. Both of them were laid to eternal rest at the Ijtema ground.
However, the bodies of the local devotees, identified as Kazi Azizul Haque, 60, Abdul Mamun, 33, Md Shahidullah (65) and Mahar Ali (60) were sent to their respective villages after namaz-e-janaza at the Ijtema ground, he said.
Tablig Jamaat has been organising the Biswa Ijtema on the bank of the Turag river since 1967. It has been holding the Ijtema in two phases since 2011 to deal with overcrowding and ensure better management and security, an organiser said.
