The Friday prayers of the first phase of the two-phased Bishwa Ijtema of Shuraye Nejam (followers of Zobayer) were held on the banks of Turag in Tongi, Gazipur with the participation of lakhs of devotees. The Friday prayers began at 1:53 pm. The sermon began at 1:43 pm. The prayers were led by Maulana Mohammad Zobayer.
Unable to find space for Friday prayers at the main Ijtema ground this Friday afternoon, worshippers offered prayers on roads, highways, and empty spaces adjacent to the ground.
After the Fajr prayer, Maulana Zia ul Haq of Pakistan delivered a sermon. Maulana Nurur Rahman immediately translated it into Bengali. At 9:15 a.m., the Talim was conducted in a room-by-room manner. Before the Talim, Maulana Jamal Sahib of India conducted a discussion. Apart from this, there will be some special programs. For example, at 10:00 a.m., Maulana Farahim Sahib of India delivered a sermon on the teachers' pulpit. Professor Abdul Mannan Sahib delivered a sermon on the prayer pulpit with the students, and Maulana Akbar Sharif Sahib of India delivered a sermon in a tin shed mosque among the Khawachhs (important persons).
Shurayi Nejam, Tablighi Jamaat Bangladesh media coordinator Habibullah Raihan confirmed that devotees have already arrived at the Ijtema ground. He said that there are still 5 days left for the Ijtema. During this time, devotees from different countries are expected to join the Ijtema.
This morning, thousands of devotees gathered at the Tongi Ijtema ground and the banks of the Turag River on the occasion of Ijtema. Among them, thousands of devotees are staying under the bamboo and jute awnings in the main Ijtema ground. Some of them are listening to the sermon. Some are busy cooking, doing ablution and bathing. Meanwhile, devotees from different parts of the country are entering the ground in groups. Some of them have bags on their heads or shoulders. Some have multiple bags and pails in their hands.
In previous years, the followers of the two factions of the Tablighi Jamaat, Maulana Zobayer and Saad Kandhalvi, used to hold Ijtema separately in two phases. However, this time, for the first time, the followers of Maulana Zobayer will hold Ijtema alone in two phases. The first phase of the Ijtema will be held from January 31 to February 2.
Devotees from 41 districts and a part of Dhaka will participate in this phase. Then, the second phase of Ijtema will be held from February 3 to 5. The final prayer will be held on February 2 and 5 respectively. And from February 14 to 16, the followers of Maulana Saad are scheduled to hold Ijtema.
