First phase ends with prayer for peace

The first phase of the Bishwa Ijtema, one of the world's largest Muslim gatherings, has drawn to a close on its third day with prayers for the nation's welfare and lasting world peace.
People from across Bangladesh and other parts of the world streamed into Tongi to take part in the 'Akheri Munajat' or the final prayer service on Sunday, reports bdnews24.com.
Maulana Md Zubair Hasan, a senior cleric from Dhaka's Kakrail Mosque, the national headquarters of the Tablighi Jamaat, conducted the prayer from a special platform at the Ijtema grounds.
The prayer, combining Arabic, Urdu and Bangla, started at 9 am and was broadcast live on television.
Thousands of people participate in the Bishwa Ijtema every year alongside foreign members of the Tablighi Jamaat. Many others who are not regular members of the Tablighi movement also take part in the Akheri Munajat.
BSS adds: A total of 18 devotees have died from Friday morning to Saturday noon in the first phase of Bishwa Ijtema.
The four devotees who died on Saturday were identified as- M. Sanowar of Rajbari Pangsha thana, M. Alam from Chattogram's Anowara thana, M. Shahnewaz Bhuiyan of Narsingdi district and Al Mahmud from Sirajganj.
Health officials at the Ijtema control room attributed their death to sudden illness, heart attack and old-age complications.
The other deceased devotees were identified as- Nowsher Ali, 65, of Sherpur, Abdul Kader, 55, and Shah Alam, 60, from Bhola, Sadheen Ahmed, 45, Abdus Sattar, 70 and Ekhlas Mia, 68, from Netrokona, Motiur Rahman, 60 of Jamalpur, Yunus Mia, 60, of Brahmanbaria, Jaman Mia, 40 of Chapainawabganj.
Police official Hasan-uz Zaman, 30, died while performing his duty as a speeding passenger bus ran over him.
However, identities of four more deceased devotees were not known yet.
Tongi Bishwa Ijtema Organizing Committee Member and Media Coordinator Habibullah Raihan confirmed BSS saying that the bodies were handed over to family members after namaz-e-janazas were held at Tongi Ijtema Maidan.
The first phase of 58th Bishwa Ijtema, one of the largest global Muslim gatherings, concluded today with continued spiritual activities, including the recitation from the holy Quran, zikar, delivering Islamic sermons.