Govt cautious in issuing Ijtema visas to devotees of 14 countries

The government has asked the authorities concerned to exercise caution in issuing Tabligh Ijtema (TI) visa to devotees of 14 countries to prevent any untoward incident during the Ijtema which may be triggered by religious extremist groups like the Islamic State (IS). This was conveyed to the authorities concerned by the Security Service Division of the home ministry during an inter-ministerial meeting last week, government sources said. The additional secretary (security and immigration) of the division, Mohammad Azharul Haque, was in the chair.

The 14 countries are: Syria, Yemen, Nigeria, Iraq, Somalia, Lebanon, Sudan, Chand, Mali, Tunisia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Philistine. The "Bishwa Ijtema", the second largest Muslim congregation after the Hajj, will be held in two phases from January 10-12 and January 17-19 on the banks of the Turag river in Tongi.

It was decided at the meeting that no foreign devotee will be allowed to enter the country without prior permission of the Markaz (Dawat-e-Tabligh) of the countries concerned, or the Markaz of Bangladesh, to attend Biswa Ijtema on security grounds.

Talking to The Independent, a senior official of the Security Service Division said foreign devotees must obtain the TI category visa from Bangladesh missions abroad to attend the congregation. “Yes, the authorities concerned will issue ‘visa

on arrival’ to foreign devotees listed by the Markaz (Dawat-e-Tabligh) of the countries concerned or the Markaz of Bangladesh,” he said. Devotees, who will attend the Ijtema, have to send their names with required papers to the authorities concerned by December 15. “If any foreigner tries to attend the Biswa Ijtema by obtaining a tourist visa, he will not be allowed to enter the country,” said the official.

The official said the authorities have already set up security devices, including archways and metal detectors, to ensure security for foreign devotees. Sources said nine land ports in the country would be used to receive the foreign devotees and also complete the immigration process smoothly.

According to the sources, a reception committee, drawn from a Special Branch (SB) team and headed by the superintendent of immigration police, is working at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to give security clearance to foreign guests. The government has also formed a special visa-cum-reception cell, comprising representatives of intelligence agencies, the passports department, and the Tablig Jamaat of the Kakrail Mosque, to issue “visa on arrival” at the country’s international airports to foreign devotees during the Biswa Ijtema, the sources said.

The sources also said more than 10,000 uniformed and undercover security forces personnel would be deployed in and around the Ijtema venue during the congregation. The Bishwa Ijtema has been held since 1967, and since 2011 it has been organised in two segments due to overcrowding.

 

Govt cautious in issuing Ijtema visas to devotees of 14 countries

The government has asked the authorities concerned to exercise caution in issuing Tabligh Ijtema (TI) visa to devotees of 14 countries to prevent any untoward incident during the Ijtema which may be triggered by religious extremist groups like the Islamic State (IS). This was conveyed to the authorities concerned by the Security Service Division of the home ministry during an inter-ministerial meeting last week, government sources said. The additional secretary (security and immigration) of the division, Mohammad Azharul Haque, was in the chair. The 14 countries are: Syria, Yemen, Nigeria, Iraq, Somalia, Lebanon, Sudan, Chand, Mali, Tunisia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Philistine. The Bishwa Ijtema, the second largest Muslim congregation after the Hajj, will be held in two phases from January 10-12 and January 17-19 on the banks of the Turag river in Tongi. It was decided at the meeting that no foreign devotee will be allowed to enter the country without prior permission of the Markaz (Dawat-e-Tabligh) of the countries concerned, or the Markaz of Bangladesh, to attend Biswa Ijtema on security grounds. Talking to The Independent, a senior official of the Security Service Division said foreign devotees must obtain the TI category visa from Bangladesh missions abroad to attend the congregation. Yes, the authorities concerned will issue visa on arrival to foreign devotees listed by the Markaz (Dawat-e-Tabligh) of the countries concerned or the Markaz of Bangladesh, he said. Devotees, who will attend the Ijtema, have to send their names with required papers to the authorities concerned by December 15. If any foreigner tries to attend the Biswa Ijtema by obtaining a tourist visa, he will not be allowed to enter the country, said the official. The official said the authorities have already set up security devices, including archways and metal detectors, to ensure security for foreign devotees. Sources said nine land ports in the country would be used to receive the foreign devotees and also complete the immigration process smoothly. According to the sources, a reception committee, drawn from a Special Branch (SB) team and headed by the superintendent of immigration police, is working at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to give security clearance to foreign guests. The government has also formed a special visa-cum-reception cell, comprising representatives of intelligence agencies, the passports department, and the Tablig Jamaat of the Kakrail Mosque, to issue visa on arrival at the countrys international airports to foreign devotees during the Biswa Ijtema, the sources said. The sources also said more than 10,000 uniformed and undercover security forces personnel would be deployed in and around the Ijtema venue during the congregation. The Bishwa Ijtema has been held since 1967, and since 2011 it has been organised in two segments due to overcrowding.