Tens of thousands of Muslims from around the world converged at a religious site near the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka, yesterday to seek blessings at the religion’s third-largest annual event.
Indian Islamic scholar Abdur Rahman formally opened the Bishwa Ijtema, which only ranks after the mandatory Haj in Saudi Arabia and the Arbaeen congregation in Iraq in significance for members of the faith.
The meeting is expected to be attended by 3mn devotees in two phases.
The three-day first phase, scheduled to end tomorrow, will be followed by a very similar second phase, set to begin on
January 15.
Devotees, dressed in traditional robes and prayer caps, streamed towards the site on overcrowded buses, trains and ferries at the bank of the Turag River, some 30km north of Dhaka.
Gias Uddin, one of the leaders of Tablighi movement and organisers, said the prayer ground is prepared. Bangladeshi President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in separate messages, greeted the guests from home and abroad.
They praised the importance of the gathering for establishing peace, unity and solidarity among the Muslims across the globe.
The congregation, which does not allow political discussion, has been taking place at the river bank since 1976, with prayers, meditation and lectures from Islamic scholars.
The government set up elaborate security plans to ensure safety at the venue. Nevertheless, there were reports of two dead pilgrims due to disease on the first day.