3 devotees die on first day
Several lakh Muslim devotees attended the jumma prayers on Friday as the first phase of the three-day Bishwa Ijtema, a large congregation of the Muslims commenced on the bank of the Turag River at Tongi in Gazipur on Friday.
The followers of the Tabligh-e-Jamaat faction led by Maulana Zubair Ahmed participated in the first phase amid tight security.
On the first day, hundreds of thousands of聽 devout Muslims from different parts of Bangladesh and across the globe participated in the country鈥檚 largest Friday prayers led by Maulana Zubair, with thousands others beyond the designated prayer area offering their prayers on roads, sidewalks and open spaces.
Three Muslim devotees, however, died on the first day.
According to the media coordinator of the Ijtema, MD Habibullah Rayhan, the three deceased devotees are Abdul Quddus Gazi, 60, a resident of Dumuria in Khulna, Amirul Islam, 46, from Thakurgaon and Sabed Ali, 70, from Sherpur鈥檚 Sribardi upazila.
Officials at the Civil Surgeon Control Room said that all three died due to age-related complications and cardiac arrest. Their namaz-e-janaza was held on the Ijtema ground.聽
Prior to the large congregation of Muslims, the authorities concerned heightened security with nearly 10,000 law enforcement personnel, said Nazmul Karim Khan, the Gazipur Metropolitan Police commissioner.
He added that the Ijtema grounds were brought under close-circuit cameras, night-vision cameras and internet protocol cameras while patrol teams had been deployed to prevent crimes.
On Saturday, a mass wedding ceremony without dowry鈥揳 long-running tradition of the Bishwa Ijtema鈥� is expected to take place.
The second phase of the Ijtema, attended by Maulana Saad鈥檚 followers, is scheduled to begin on February 14 and conclude on February 16.
On December 18, at least four people were killed and scores others injured in a clash between two factions led by Maulana Zubair and Maulana Saad over the control of the Ijtema ground at Tongi.
One of the injured succumbed to his injuries while being treated at Dhaka Medical College Hospital on January 28.聽
