District Representative: World Ijtema, the second largest gathering of the Muslim world, has officially started with Ambayan on the shore of Turag in Tongir.

After the Fajr prayer on Friday (February 2), the first phase of the World Ijtema began with the ambayan of Pakistan's Maulana Ahmad Butler. Additionally, Maulana Nurur Rahman is in charge of translating it in Bangla.

The information was confirmed by the media coordinator of the first phase of Vishwa Ijtema. Habibullah Raihan.

He said, Maulana Ziaul Haq Sahib of Pakistan will conduct training at 10 am after the speech of Maulana Ahmad Batla Sahib. Preparations for the largest Friday prayer in the country will begin immediately after his training.

Maulana Zubair will lead Friday prayers. Jordan's Maulana Khatib Saheb will speak after Friday prayer, Hafez Maulana Zubair Saheb of Bangladesh after Asr prayer and India's Maulana Ahmad Lat Saheb will speak after Maghrib.

Ignoring various sufferings including cold and rain, the surrounding area including Biswa Ijtema Maidan has become lively with the walk of pilgrims from different parts of the country.

The first phase of this year's World Ijtema, which began with Ambayan after the Fajr prayer on Friday, will end with the final prayer on Sunday. The second phase of Ijtema will begin on February 9.

Since Wednesday, two days before the start of the first phase of the Vishwa Ijtema, the worshipers have not been able to find a place in the Maidan and have taken up positions in various alleys, footpaths and open spaces around the Maidan. Already, the Ijtema Maidan has been filled to the brim with the arrival of worshippers.

Numerous worshipers gathered at the Ijtema Maidan immediately after Maghrib prayers on Thursday were caught in the rain. It increases their suffering.

Although the sky was cloudy throughout the day on Thursday, it did not rain till evening. There was a few light drizzles. However, it started raining after the Maghrib prayer. The worshipers suffered a lot.

Commissioner of Gazipur Metropolitan Police. Mahbub Alam said that adequate security measures have been taken around the World Ijtema. Along with 6000 members of Gazipur Metropolitan Police, RAB, Dhaka Metropolitan Police and adequate number of law enforcement officers in uniform and plainclothes are on duty in Ijtema.

Three worshipers have died in this year's Ijtema so far. Two worshipers died on Wednesday and one on Thursday. They are Yunus Mia (60), Zaman (40) and Abdus Sattar (70).

Among them, Yunus Mia's house is in Sarail police station of Brahmanbaria district, Zaman's house is in Chapainawabganj district and Abdus Sattar's house is in Netrakona district. All three reportedly died of old age.

Sun News/JR