Shawdesh Desk:

The second phase of Bishwa Ijtema, one of the largest Muslim congregations in the world, ended on Sunday with the akheri munajat on the bank of the River Turag at Tongi, on the outskirts of the capital Dhaka.

The followers of Muhammad Saad Al Kandhalvi attended the second phase of the 56th Bishwa Ijtema, which began on Friday.

Maulana Muhammad Yusuf Bin Sadd Kandhalvi, son of Maulana Muhammad Saad Al Kandhalvi, conducted the akheri munajat. The prayer began at about at 12:00pm and it ended at about 12:45pm.

As part of the rationalised traffic system, movement of vehicles remain suspended from 6:00am in the morning till the akheri munajat – from Bhogra Bypass to Addullahpur on Dhaka-Mymensingh highway, Khamarpara Road, and Abdullahpur to Bypile on Ashulia Road.

The metro rail will run from 8:00am to 5:00pm on the day for smooth movement of the devotees.

Several thousand Muslims from home and abroad participated in the akheri munajat on the last day of the 2nd phase of Ijtema.

Tongi railway station officials said that the railway arranged special trains to carry people in areas, including Akhaura, Mymensingh and Cumilla during the Ijtema.

More than 7,000 foreigners from over 60 countries attended the second phase of Ijtema.

The first phase took place at the same venue on January 13-15, which was attended by Tabligh group Zubair Hassan’s followers.

The Tabligh Jamaat authorities split the Ijtema into two phases in 2011, dividing the participation of the 64 districts to reduce the pressure on the venue and to ensure better management and security.

But, due to a conflict between the followers of two factions over the nomination of the chief of the World Tabligh Jamaat in December 2018, the Ijtema has been held in two phases based on the following of the faction leaders.

Tabligh Jamaat has been organising the Ijtema at the venue since 1967.