Thousands of pilgrims stream through Dhaka's streets on Sunday, returning home after the second phase of Bishwa Ijtema. Many faced travel difficulties, including limited public transport and reports of overcharging. — FE Photo The curtain has fallen on the second and final phase of the Bishwa Ijtema in Gazipur's Tongi with prayers for peace, unity and welfare of Muslims across the globe, reports bdnews24.com.
Tens of thousands of devotees from Bangladesh and abroad packed the banks of the Turag River to take part in the 'Akheri Munajat' or final prayer on Sunday.
Prayers for unity, peace wrap up second phase of Bishwa Ijtema
Maulana Yusuf bin Saad, the eldest son of renowned Indian cleric Maulana Saad Kandhlawi, led the prayer, which ended at 11:43 am.
The last day's proceedings kicked off after Fajr prayers with a sermon in Hindi from India's Mufti Maqsood, translated into Bangla by Maulana Abdullah.
Later, Maulana Yusuf delivered a spiritual address and conducted the final prayer, with Maulana Monir bin Yusuf providing the Bangla translation.
Devotees began arriving at the Ijtema venue early in the morning by various means of transport, eager to participate in the final prayer. With the Ijtema ground reaching its capacity, many found spots on nearby roads, footpaths, and even rooftops. A significant number of women, who came to join in the prayers, were also seen waiting in different locations.
Prayers for unity, peace wrap up second phase of Bishwa Ijtema
The Bishwa Ijtema, one of the world's largest Muslim gatherings, has been being held in two phases for the last few years due to a division within the Tablighi Jamaat.
The first phase, attended by followers of Maulana Muhammad Zubair from Dhaka's Kakrail Mosque, ended on Feb 4.
The second phase, dedicated to the followers of Saad Kandhlawi, began on Friday.
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