Millions pray for world peace in Bangladesh’s Islamic gathering

DHAKA - Millions of devotees, led by an Indian cleric, prayed for global peace, prosperity and unity in Bangladesh as the world’s second-largest Muslim congregation concluded Sunday.

The three-day Biswa Ijtema ended with Moulana Jubayerul Hassan from India leading the “Akhri Munajaat” (final supplications) on the bank of Turag in Tongi, the industrial suburb of the national capital.

Organisers estimated more than three million devotees attended the mass prayer, which was aired live throughout the country. President Zillur Rahman, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Leader of Opposition Khaleda Zia, ministers and lawmakers also joined the prayers from separate platforms.

Before the munajat, the president listened to the “Bayan” (sermons) for nearly one-and-half hour sitting adjacent to the main stage of the congregation, The Daily Star newspaper reported.

The Tabligh-e-Jamaat has been organising the Ijtema since 1976. It mainly concentrates on prayers and meditation seeking blessings from Allah and lectures from Islamic scholars.

The Ijtema was held under tight security. Around 18,000 security personnel from different agencies and several hundred plainclothes law enforcers were deployed in the area.

Traffic was disrupted for hours on a major highway linking the capital with northern districts. Many schools and businesses were also closed.