United News of Bangladesh

The three-day first phase of the 58th version of the Biswa Ijtema has ended through Akheri Munajat (final prayer) on the banks of the Turag River in Gazipur, with the participation of tens of thousands of devotees. Bangladeshi’s Tabligh Jamaat leader Maulana Jubair conducted the final prayer that lasted for 24 minutes starting at 9:11am Sunday. Tens of thousands of devotees from home and abroad, including India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, attended the prayer. People were seen joining the prayer from rooftops of buildings, in vehicles as the gathering of the devotees spanned several kilometers surrounding the Ijteam ground. Many attendees broke down seeking the blessing of Almighty Allah in the mundane and late after the death life, with a good number of women participating. After the prayer, a huge rush was seen on the by-roads and train tracks as the devotees started heading towards their destinations in parts of the country. Read: More devotees arrive on 2nd day of Ijtema in Tongi

The 58th version of the Biswa Ijtema on the banks of the Turag River in Gazipur’s Tongi has begun with participation of tens of thousands of devotees from home and abroad. The formal opening of the religious gathering, seen as the second largest religious gathering after the Hajj, marked a start after Maghrib prayer on Thursday through delivering sermons by Indian scholar Maulana Ibrahim Deolar. After Fajr prayer on Friday, Pakistani Islamic scholar Maunla Ziaul Haque delivered ordinary sermons before the devotees while Bangladeshi Tablig Jamaat’s leader Maulana Jubair will conduct the Jummah prayer, said Habibullah Raihan, media coordinator of Tabligh Jamaat Bangladesh Shurari Nezam. Read: Bangladesh Railway to run special trains for Ijtema attendees

A stone-laden truck plunged into the the Turag River in Tongi, Gazipur as a bailey bridge over the river collapsed early Saturday, disrupting traffic on the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway.  Gazipur Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner NM Nasir Uddin said the stone-laden truck fell into the river due to the collapse of the bridge and vehicles bound for Gazipur are now being redirected through Kamarpara. He said traffic of the other routes through the newly-constructed bridge over the Turag River remains unaffected.  Fire breaks out at Banani slum The Roads and Highways Department has been informed of the incident and is expected to take necessary action, Nasir Uddin said.  To address the situation, Gazipur Metropolitan Police issued a traffic guideline on social media urging commuters to avoid the Tongi bailey bridge and use the Kamarpara-Munnugate route instead. Gazipur Roads and Highways Executive Engineer KM Shariful Alam did not respond to the correspondent’s calls for his comments. 

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has imposed a ban on rallies, processions, demonstrations, and gatherings at Kamarpur, Abdullahpur, Uttara Sector-10, and adjacent areas along the southern and western banks of the Turag River. The ban was imposed following violent clashes between two groups at the Biswa Ijtema ground in Tongi on Wednesday that left two people dead and many injured. The restriction, effective from 2 pm Wednesday, will remain in place until further notice, according to a public notification issued by DMP Commissioner Sheikh Md Sajjat Ali. The ban has been enforced under Section 29 of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police Ordinance (Ordinance No. III/76) to maintain discipline in light of the prevailing situation, it said. Joint efforts needed to ensure safe roads and comfortable travel: senior secretary Authorities have tightened security in and around the Biswa Ijtema ground to prevent any untoward incidents following the clashes. A large contingent of the Army, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), and other forces, along with regular police, have been patrolling the area. According to a statement from the BGB headquarters, four platoons have been deployed in the area.  

The second phase of the three-day ‘Biswa Ijtema’, one of the largest congregations of Muslims in the world, will begin on Friday morning on the bank of the Turag River in Gazipur's Tongi. The authorities have completed the necessary preparations to hold the religious gathering smoothly. Six men die on Biswa Ijtema ground A good number of foreign devotees from different parts of the world along with Bangladeshis have already thronged the Ijtema venue. The second phase of Ijtema will start after fajr prayers through ‘Aam Bayan’ on Friday and will end on Sunday (Feb 11) through Akheri Munajat. First phase of Biswa Ijtema begins Devotees from different foreign countries including India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Europe, America and Africa have reached the venue. Meanwhile, members of law enforcement agencies will be deployed to maintain law and order at the Ijtema venue and adjacent areas. Besides, plainclothes police and intelligence officers will remain deployed in the area. All out measures taken for fire safety for devotees in Biswa Ijtema: FSCD The first phase of Bishwa Ijtema ended on February 4 at the same venue starting on February 2.

The second phase of three-day Biswa Ijtema, billed as the second largest congregation of Muslims after hajj, begins on the banks of the Turag River at Tongi on Friday. This phase of 56th edition of the Biswa Ijtema will begin through "a'm bayan" (general sermons) after Fazr prayers with the participation of a large number of devotees including the followers of Indian Islamic preacher Maulana Muhammad Saad Al Kandhalvi. Read more: 2nd phase Bishwa Ijtema: Metro rail to operate from 8am-5pm on Jan 22 Several thousand devotees are expected to offer Jum'a prayers, led by Maulana Saad’s son Yusuf bin Kandalvi, on the first day of the second phase Ijtema. Thousands of devotees from home and abroad have started thronging the banks of the Turag River to take part in the religious event to seek divine blessings of the Almighty Allah. State Minister for Religious Affairs Md Faridul Haque Khan inaugurated the Free Medical Camp of Hamdard Laboratories (Waqf) Bangladesh this noon (Thursday) to provide health services for the devotees. Additional police will be deployed in and around the Ijtema venue to ensure security of the devotees. The venue has been brought under CCTV surveillance, said Gazipur Metropolitan Police (GMP) Commissioner Molla Nazrul Islam. The three-day Biswa Ijtema will end on January 22 with Akheri Munajat (final prayers). Read more: First phase of Bishwa Ijtema ends today with ‘Akheri Munajat’ Meanwhile, metro rail in Dhaka will be operated from 8am to 5pm on January 22 for the smooth movement of the devotees attending the second phase of Bishwa Ijtema. The metro rail authority will extend their service hour to facilitate the devotees on the Akheri Munajat day, Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) (Public Relations) Nazmul Islam Bhuiyan told UNB on Thursday. The first phase of three-day Biswa Ijtema ended on January 15 with the Akheri Munajat. 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.

The first phase of Bishwa Ijtema, one of the biggest congregations of Muslims in the world, in Tongi is continuing for the second day today (January 14, 2023) — drawing devotees in the lakhs. The three-day congregation began on the bank of the Turag river after Fajr prayers on Friday with sermons delivered by noted Islamic scholar Maulana Ziaul Haque of Pakistan. Several lakhs of Muslim devotees, both from home and abroad, are converging at the venue and attending the prayers — reciting the names of Allah and hearing the sermons. Also read: Biswa Ijtema: World's second-largest Muslim gathering begins Maulana Khurshidul Haque of Pakistan delivered sermons after Fajr prayers and Maulana Ibrahim Deula of India also delivered sermons in the morning. Maulana Iftar Zaman will deliver sermons in English. Devotees from different parts of the country are still coming to the Ijtema venue by buses, trucks, boats and on foot. Read More: Nagad sets up booth at Bishwa Ijtema The first phase of Ijtema will end tomorrow (Sunday, January 15, 2023) with Akheri Munajat (final prayers). Ijtema is being held in two phases from 2012 to ease accommodation issues. The second phase of Ijtema is scheduled to be held on January 20-22 at the same place. Meanwhile, six devotees died in separate incidents at the Ijtema venue on Thursday, Friday and today. Read More: 1st phase of Biswa Ijtema begins Friday A mass wedding ceremony will be held today at the ground after Asr prayers. Gazipur Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mollah Nazrul Islam said additional police personnel have been deployed in and around the Ijtema venue to ensure the security of the devotees. The venue has been brought under closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera surveillance. Besides, thousands of volunteers are working round the clock to make sure the event runs smoothly. Read More: Foolproof security measures taken ahead of Ijtema: IGP Several health centres have been set up at different parts of the venue along with beds and almost all first aid and other treatment facilities with doctors doing round-the-clock duties at each centre. Special measures have also been taken to ensure uninterrupted electricity during the three-day Ijtema. Tabligh Jamaat has been organising the congregation at the Tongi venue since 1967. In 2011, it divided Ijtema into two phases to accommodate a large number of attendees. Read More: Sylhet police asks Anjumane Hefazat-e-Islam to postpone their ijtema till after BNP’s rally

The first phase of three-day ‘Biswa Ijtema’, billed as  the second largest congregation of Muslims after Hajj, is set to begin Friday morning on the bank of the Turag river in Gazipur's Tongi. The authorities concerned have completed the necessary preparations to hold the gathering smoothly. A good number of foreign devotees from different parts of the world along with local ones have thronged the Ijtema venue to join Ijtema. President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in separate messages greeted the Muslim devotees on this occasion. The government set up health camps for the devotees to provide them treatment like the previous years. However, two devotees died of cold-related disease at the venue on Thursday. State Minister for Youth and Sports Zahid Ahsan Russell inaugurated a private health camp for the devotees today. Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chowdhuury Abdullah Al Mamun visited the Ijtema ground today and said that they have taken strict security measures for the devotees. Apart from this, special security measures have been taken for the foreign devotees who are coming from Dhaka airport to the Ijtema venue, he said. Gazipur Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mollah Nazrul Islam said as part of the security measures, watch towers and CCTV cameras were set up in and around the venue. Besides, members of intelligence in plainclothes will remain deployed here to ensure security, he said. Read more: 1st phase of Bishwa Ijtema to begin January 13 The Ijtema was not held in the two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The first phase Biswa Ijtema will end on Sunday through Akheri Munajat (final prayer). Tabligh Jamaat has been organising the congregation at the venue since 1967. In 2011, Tabligh split the Ijtema into two phases, dividing the participation of the people of 64 districts, to reduce pressure on the venue and ensure better management. The second phase of the Ijtema will be held from January 20 to 22 this year. A 22km long tailback created stretching from Tongi Bridge to Moghbazar in the city on Thursday due to the huge pressure of Ijtema-bound vehicles in Tongi. The gridlock stretched from Tongi Bridge-Abdullahpur-Airport to Mohakhali-Moghbazar areas of Dhaka resulting in sufferings for commuters.  Read more: First-phase Biswa Ijtema ends with Akheri Munajat

The death toll from the trawler capsize in the Turag River rose to seven with the recovery of two more bodies on Monday. However, the identities of the deceased could not be known yet. Read: Turag trawler capsize: Death toll rises to 5 Fire service divers recovered the body of a 30-year-old woman from the Turag river at Koylaghat of Aminbazar in the morning, said Md Raihanul, station officer (media) of Fire Service and Civil Defense headquarters. Later, Naval police recovered the body of a two-year-old child from the Muktarpur river in Munshiganj at noon. Earlier, the bodies of four children and a woman were retrieved from the river on Saturday. Kazi Mazharul Islam, officer-in-charge of Savar Police Station, said the Gabtoli-bound vessel with 15 people on board capsized in the river after hitting the bulkhead off the coast of Savar's Aminbazar on the outskirts of Dhaka on Saturday morning. Read: 3 die as passenger vessel hits bulkhead in Turag While eight people managed to swim to safety, seven others went missing. On information, divers from the local fire service station rushed to the spot and launched a rescue operation.

Dhaka North City Corporation Mayor Atiqul Islam on Wednesday said Rupnagar canal, located in the city's Mirpur area, will be connected with the Turag river.