Kaladan News

Dated: Thursday, December 02, 2004

Ijtema (Religious Gathering) Begin Today in Dhaka

Chittagong, December 02: The Biswa Ijtema (world religious gathering), a congregation of world Muslims organized by the Tablig Jammat, begins today at Tongi about 12 km north off the Dhaka, said Tin Soe, Kaladan Press Staff, who is a participant of the Ijtema.

It is the second largest congregation of Muslims next to Hajj on the planet and was being held regularly at the same place since 1966.

The devotees started arriving at the Ijtema ground yesterday. The huge canopy erected on 160 acres of land on the eastern bank of the Turag River. The camp has Tin and bamboo-made fencing around it. A group of Rohingya came from Arakan state; Burma and Some Burmese Muslims came from Burma proper also joined the Ijtema, Tin Soe further added.

Foreign devotees would be supplied cooked food at the camp. Devotees from around 65 countries are expected to attend the Ijtema considered. The three-day Ijtema begins today and will end on Sunday morning through offering of the Akheri Munajat (the last solemn request) or expression of thanks to God or the concluding supplication, said Issaque, a Rohingya who  participates at the Biswa Ijtema.

Hundreds of tube-wells have been installed and temporary latrines set up on the venue. Temporary water reservoirs have also been set up at different corners of the ground to provide ablution facilities to the devotee, he further added.

A large number of devotees from home and abroad have already come to Dhaka to join the Ijtema. Many of them are staying at Kakrail Mosque, the main centre of the organizers, and other mosques. Yesterday, they were moving to Ijtema ground, Tin Soe again said.

Islamic scholars from home and abroad will deliver speeches every day at the Ijtema highlighting various aspects of Islam. The speeches will be translated in various languages such as--- Bengali, Urdu, Arabic, English, Burmese and Hindi---so that devotees could understand them, Tin Soe continued.

The government has taken adequate measures to ensure security during the Ijtema and already deployed large contingents of police at the venue.

Various social and religious organizations have set up temporary medical camps for providing emergency treatment to the devotees. Besides, hundreds of loudspeakers have been installed on the ground to broadcast the deliberations round the clock, said Issaque.

President Iajuddin Ahamed, Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and leader of he Opposition Sheikh Hasina are expected to participate in the Akheri Munajat, said Tin Soe after inquiring from Ijtema Committee. ##

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