Devotees seek divine blessings

GAZIPUR, Jan 26 (UNB): The first phase of Biswa Ijtema, the second largest Muslim congregation after holy Hajj, concluded Sunday with the Akheri Munajat (concluding prayers) seeking divine forgiveness and blessings for peace and prosperity of the Muslim Ummah.
Tens of thousands of devotees from home and abroad raised their hands in supplication on the bank of Turag River at Tongi on the outskirts of the capital on the last day of the first phase of Ijtema.
Noted policymaker of Tablig Jamaat Maulana Jubayer Al-Hasan from India conducted the 20-minute Akheri Munajat, which began around 12:54 pm.
Devotees from 32 districts joined the prayers with scores of thousands more on the nearby rooftops of buildings and on open fields and roads.
The huge gathering of devotees, who joined the munajat, spilled over to areas around the Ijtema venue.
The three-day first phase of the annual Islamic congregation began Friday with the deliberation of 'Aam Bayan' (general sermons) after Fajr prayers.
The second phase of the Biswa Ijtema will be held from January 31 to February 2.
Organisers said some 3.0 million devotees, including 30,000 from about 100 foreign countries joined the Ijtema.
Islamic scholars from different Muslim countries, including Pakistan, India, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates delivered sermons which were instantly interpreted into Bangla, English and few other languages.
Meanwhile, nine devotees, including a Yemeni, died so far at the Ijtema ground due to cold and old age complications.