2nd phase of Bishwa Ijtema ends today, 5 devotees die

Staff Reporter :
Like the first phase of Bishwa Ijtema, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) and the Gazipur Metropolitan Police (GMP) have issued some traffic directives to ease for the second phase of Ijtema devotees commuting to and from the congregation ground on the occasion of Akheri Munajat (final prayers) to be held today (Sunday).
Meanwhile, five devotees died due to their physical illness at the second phase Bishwa Ijtema venue in Tongi of Gazipur between early Thursday and Saturday morning.
However, the metro rail authority has decided that it will run the metro rail from 8:00am to 5:00pm on Sunday for smooth movement of the devotees attending the second phase of the congregation.
As per GMP directives, movements of vehicles from Tongi to Bhogra Bypass on Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway, Kamarpara Road, Abdullahpur to Bypile on Ashulia Road will remain suspended from 6:00am Sunday till the end of Akheri Munajat, said GMP commissioner Mollah Nazrul Islam.
 The GMP commissioner requested commuters to use the bypass road to avoid traffic gridlock.
On the other hand, the DMP has issued separate traffic guidelines for 2nd phase of Bishwa Ijtema on the occasion of Akheri Munajat and traffic diversions will be in force on the day of the ‘Akheri Munajat’ from 4:00am on Sunday.
On January 22, the movement of vehicles from the Pragati Sarani crossing-Abdullahpur-Dhour Bridge-Ashulia Crossing-Mirpur Mazar Road to Beribadh, National Zoo to Beribadh and Pallabi Eastern Housing to Beribadh will be suspended, DMP sources said.
The diversion points are — Dhaur Bridge, Sector No.18 Panchvati Crossing, Mohakhali intersection, Hotel Radisson, Pragati Sarani (Biswa Road), Loop-2 under the Kuratali Flyover, west end of the Mohakhali Flyover, Diabari Bus Stand crossing in Mirpur and Ashulia Bazar Crossing.
Inter-district buses, trucks, covered vans and other heavy vehicles will run on Mohakhali-Bijoy Sarani-Gabtoli route, avoiding Abdullahpur and Dhaur Bridge, while Abdullahpur-bound vehicles from Ashulia have to divert to Dhour Bridge Crossing and then to Mirpur Beribadh.
Abdullahpur-bound inter-district buses, trucks, covered vans and other vehicles from the Mohakhali Bus Terminal have to turn left and take the Bijoy Sarani-Gabtali route.
Buses, trucks, and covered vans from Kakoli and Mirpur to Uttara will be diverted at the turning outside Hotel Radisson. These vehicles have to take an alternative route.
Private cars, microbuses, and auto-rickshaws travelling from Kakoli, Mirpur to Uttara will be diverted at the Nikunja-1 gate. These vehicles will have to take an alternative route as well.
Vehicles heading from Pragati Sarani to Abdullahpur will be diverted at loop-2 under the Kuril flyover and must take alternative roads.
Vehicles for airlines and crew, fire service, law enforcement and ambulances will be requested to use the Mirpur-Gabtoli route via Mohakhali and Bijoy Sarani instead of the Airport Road on Sunday.
Five devotees died due to their physical illness were identified as Abdul Hannan, 58, son of Abdul Jabbar of city’s east Jurain under Kadamtali Thana, Hazi Md Borhan Uddin, 45, son of late Hazi Waizullah of city’s Gulistan Bongobazar area, Mofizul Islam, 75, son of Abdul Ali of Borguna, Md Abdul Hamid Mondal, 55, son of late Md Shukkur Mondal of Gaibandha, and Mofizul Islam, 54, son of Abdul Alim of Savar.
Tongi Bishwa Ijtema Organizing Committee Member and Media organiser Md Sayem told reporters that they died at Ijtema ground during the second phase of the largest congregation of Muslims.
The bodies were handed over to their respective family members after the namaz-e-janazas held at the Ijtema Maidan.
The second phase of the 56th Bishwa Ijtema began on Friday with “aam bayaan” (general sermons) after Fazr prayers with the participation of followers of Indian Islamic preacher Maulana Muhammad Saad Al Kandhalvi.
Muslims from home and abroad thronged the banks of the Turag to take part in the event to seek the divine blessings of Almighty Allah.
Indian Islamic scholar Maulana Yeakub Ali conducted the sermon after Fazr prayers on Saturday.
Tabligh Jamaat has been organizing the congregation in Tongi since 1967. In 2011, it divided the Ijtema into two phases to accommodate a large number of devotees.