Photo: Collected
On the second day of the first phase of the 58th Biswa Ijtema the devotees on Saturday listened to scholars' recitation and explanation of verses from the Quran. Three devotees have died since the opening of the religious event on Friday.
Several lakhs of devotees including over 2500 foreign pilgrims from several countries have gathered on the Ijtema ground and continued spiritual activities, including the recitation of Allah's divine names and sermons.
The first phase of Bishwa Ijtema began on Friday with Aam bayaan (general sermons) after Fajr prayers by Maulana Ziaul Haque.
MaulanaKhurshed of Pakistan delivered sermons after Fajr prayer on Saturday and Maulana Obaidur Rahman translated it into Bangla. Besides, Maulana Ibrahim Deula and Maulana Akbar Sharif will deliver sermons the whole day respectively.
Devotees from different parts of the country are still coming to the Ijtema venue on the banks of Turag River by buses, trucks, boats and on foot. The first phase of Ijtema will end Sunday with Akheri Munajat (final prayers). A mass wedding ceremony will be held today at the ground after Asr prayers.
Besides,a devotee, identified as Yeakub Ali from Habiganj district died at Ijtema venue. With this, three devotees died in the two days. To ensure security of the devotees, thousands of law enforcers have been deployed in and around the Ijtema ground, along with in plainclothes.
Necessary arrangements, including sufficient water supply and healthcare, have been ensured. Tabligh Jamaat has been organising the congregation at the venue since 1967. In 2011, it divided Ijtema into two phases to accommodate a large number of attendees.
Messenger/Tareq