Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today joined the Akheri Munajat (final prayers) of the 55th Bishwa Ijtema as the first phase of the world’s largest Muslim congregation after the holy Hajj ended on the banks of the river Turag at Tongi.
Accompanied by her younger sister Sheikh Rehana, the prime minister took part in the munajat from her official Ganabhaban residence here this morning, reports BSS.
State Minister for Religious Affairs Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah and officials and employees of the Prime Minister’s Office and Ganabhaban took part in the munajat from Ganabhaban.
A special prayer was offered on the occasion seeking continued peace, progress and welfare of the country as well as the greater unity of the Muslim Ummah.
Senior Islamic Scholar of Kakrail Mosque Hafez Maulana Mohammad Zobaer led the 35-minute prayer both in Bangla and Arabic languages.
Tens of thousands of Muslim devotees, including 2,000 foreigners, attended the Ijtema ignoring the inclement weather triggered by the bone-chilling cold sweeping over the country including the capital city.
The first phase of Bishwa Ijtema, which formally started with “ambayan” (general sermon) after Fazr prayers at dawn on Friday, ended with Akheri Munajat today.
In the three-day first phase Ijtema, noted ulema-mashaekhs in their sermons called for following the guidance of the holy Quran and Sunnah. The sermons were translated into different languages of the world.
The second phase of the Ijtema is scheduled to begin on January 17 at the same venue and it will end on January 19.
The New Delhi-based Tablig-e-Jamaat has been organising the Ijtema since 1967.
For managing the growing number of devotees coming from home and abroad, the holy congregation is being held in two phases since the year of 2011.