The ‘akheri munajat’ (concluding prayer) of the Bishwa Ijtema on the banks of the River Turag at Tongi will be offered today, ending the three-day annual Muslim congregation. Tens of thousands of the Muslims from home and abroad are participating in the second largest congregation of the Muslims after Hajj. Some 4 million people have already thronged the Ijtema ground, organisers said.
President Md Zillur Rahman, prime minister Sheikh Hasina and opposition leader Khaleda Zia arrived at the Biswa Ijtema venue to attend the Akheri Munajat, the final prayers from noon on Sunday. The president and prime minister reached the Ijtema ground at 11:20am while the opposition leader reached there at around 10:30am.
Biswa Ijtema, the second largest Muslim congregation after the Hajj, began on Friday at Tongi on the outskirts of capital Dhaka. The three-day annual Tablighi Jamaat Islamic congregation started through Aam Bayan, or principal sermon, after the Fajr (early morning) prayers.
Biswa Ijtema, the largest congregation of Muslims after hajj, begins today on the bank of Turag in Tongi with participation of around two million devotees including over one lakh women from home and abroad.
Thousands of devotees arrived at the Biswa Ijtema venue yesterday as the three-day congregation begins tomorrow on the bank of river Turag at Tongi. Around two million devotees including one lakh females from home and abroad are expected to participate in the second largest congregation of Muslims next to hajj. Around 9,000 foreign devotees from 27 countries have so far arrived at the Ijtema site, said the organisers.
The probe committee formed to find out the reasons behind Saturday's violent clashes in Nippon Garments Factory in Tongi would submit its report on November 11, committee chief Ataharul Islam said Wednesday. "We have already fixed the working strategy of the committee," Ataharul Islam who is also the labour secretary told The Daily Star after the committee's first meeting at his office. "We have also decided to submit the report as soon as possible," he said.
The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association has sensed a campaign of industrial sabotage in Saturday’s protests of garment workers at Tongi, which, its leaders have said, was aimed at crowding out the country of the global clothing market.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina asked the home ministry to take necessary action against the authorities of the garments factory responsible for the violent incident occurred in Tongi of Gazipur on Saturday.
At least four people including two police personnel were reportedly killed and over 200 others injured in clashes between ready-made garment workers and law enforcers at Ershadnagar of Tongi in Gazipur on Saturday.
