Thousands converge on Barisal Ijtema ground

The three-day long regional-level Biswa Ijtema, global congregation Muslims, that started at Nabagram Road in the city on Thursday evening is continuing amid delivery of sermons, with participation of several thousand devotees.
Mawlana Rafikul Islam, district Tablig Jamaat ameer, is delivering sermons. The congregation with gathering of several thousand devotees on 10 acres of land is scheduled to end through Akheri Munajat early Monday. The event focuses on prayers and supplication seeking divine blessings of Allah. The Ijtema management committee estimated the number of devotees participating in the congregation to have been two lakh.
The tradition of Ijtema was initiated by an Indian savant named Muhammad Ilyas al-Kandhlawi in 1927 at Shahranpur of Uttar Pradesh in India and began as a small group of religious-minded individuals gathering at a local mosque.
The Ijtema is non-political, and therefore it draws people of all persuasion. Prayer is held for the spiritual adulation, exaltation and welfare of the Muslims community.
This immensely popular programme gives the people of the southern region an opportunity to interact with Muslims from other parts of the countries.
Devotees have reduced their own requirements and developed a respect for others' requirements, said Harunor Rashid, one of the organisers.It is believed to be possible to maintain discipline because of the minimalist approach adopted by the devotees, said participants of the Ijtema.
Barisal City Corporation, district and police administrations, law enforcing agencies took special arrangements for the large number of devotees, said Ahsan Habib Kamal, BCC Mayor. Special arrangements for water supply, bath, sanitation, cooking, communications, internal movements and medical services were also made, said Dr Gazi Md. Saifuzzaman, deputy commissioner of Barisal.
There have been set up watchtowers, control rooms and uniformed and plainclothes law enforcers have remained deployed at the venue to maintain law and order, said Luthfar Rahman Mandal, commissioner of Barisal Metropolitan Police.

 

Thousands converge on Barisal Ijtema ground

The three-day long regional-level Biswa Ijtema, global congregation Muslims, that started at Nabagram Road in the city on Thursday evening is continuing amid delivery of sermons, with participation of several thousand devotees. Mawlana Rafikul Islam, district Tablig Jamaat ameer, is delivering sermons. The congregation with gathering of several thousand devotees on 10 acres of land is scheduled to end through Akheri Munajat early Monday. The event focuses on prayers and supplication seeking divine blessings of Allah. The Ijtema management committee estimated the number of devotees participating in the congregation to have been two lakh. The tradition of Ijtema was initiated by an Indian savant named Muhammad Ilyas al-Kandhlawi in 1927 at Shahranpur of Uttar Pradesh in India and began as a small group of religious-minded individuals gathering at a local mosque. The Ijtema is non-political, and therefore it draws people of all persuasion. Prayer is held for the spiritual adulation, exaltation and welfare of the Muslims community. This immensely popular programme gives the people of the southern region an opportunity to interact with Muslims from other parts of the countries. Devotees have reduced their own requirements and developed a respect for others requirements, said Harunor Rashid, one of the organisers.It is believed to be possible to maintain discipline because of the minimalist approach adopted by the devotees, said participants of the Ijtema. Barisal City Corporation, district and police administrations, law enforcing agencies took special arrangements for the large number of devotees, said Ahsan Habib Kamal, BCC Mayor. Special arrangements for water supply, bath, sanitation, cooking, communications, internal movements and medical services were also made, said Dr Gazi Md. Saifuzzaman, deputy commissioner of Barisal. There have been set up watchtowers, control rooms and uniformed and plainclothes law enforcers have remained deployed at the venue to maintain law and order, said Luthfar Rahman Mandal, commissioner of Barisal Metropolitan Police.