Bishwa Ijtema 1st Phase: Akheri Munajat today
Staff Reporter :
The first phase of the 58th Bishwa Ijtema is set to conclude today (Sunday) with the Akheri Munajat, expected to take place between 9:00 am and 9:30 am.
To accommodate the massive gathering of devotees, authorities have implemented extensive traffic and security measures around the Ijtema venue in Tongi.
Gazipur Metropolitan Police (GMP) Commissioner Md Nazmul Karim Khan announced during a press briefing on Saturday that traffic movement around the Ijtema ground would be suspended from 12:00 am on Sunday (2 February).
The restrictions aim to ensure smooth and safe participation for devotees attending the concluding prayers of the religious congregation.
According to the GMP, roads that will remain closed include the Tongi-Abdullahpur section of the Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway, Tongi to Gazipur’s Bhogra Bypass, Abdullahpur-Baipail section of the Abdullahpur-Nabinagar-Chandra Highway, as well as the Tongi-Kamarpara and Tongi-Kaliganj roads. These roads will reopen once the crowd disperses after the Munajat.
To mitigate travel disruptions, alternative routes have been designated.
Vehicles traveling towards Mymensingh and Gazipur have been advised to take the Gabtoli-Konabari road, while those heading to Dhaka from Mymensingh should use the Bhogra Bypass-300 Feet Road. Additionally, goods-laden vehicles will not be permitted on roads near the Ijtema venue during this period.
Security has been heightened with increased detective surveillance to maintain order and prevent any untoward incidents, the GMP commissioner stated.
Meanwhile, to facilitate the return of thousands of devotees, Bangladesh Railway has arranged nine special trains. The government has also deployed additional buses to ease transportation after the conclusion of the event.
The Bishwa Ijtema, one of the largest Islamic gatherings in the world, is held annually on the banks of the Turag River and attracts millions of devotees from home and abroad.
Following the completion of the first phase, the second phase of the Ijtema will take place on a later date.