File Photo

DHAKA, Oct 13, 2022 (BSS) - The Bishwa Ijtema, the world's second largest congregation of Muslims after Hajj, will be held in two phases on January 13-15 and January 20-22 next year.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal made the remarks after meeting on the date of Bishwa Ijtema and law and order with two Tabligh groups at his ministry conference room today.

He said that the two phase congregations will take place from January
13-15 and January 20-22 respectively next year on the bank of the Turag River, outskirts of the capital Dhaka.

The minister said that fruitful discussion was held with two Tabligh groups - Maulana Zubair Ahmad and Maulana Wasiful Islam--, adding, "Jubair group will join the first phase of the congregation."

He said that the Ijtema should be held on a limited scale, maintaining health safety guidelines.

"The last two years, the Ijtema was not held due to the COVID-19. This time it will be held as the Covid situation improved and the Prime Minister has instructed to arrange it on a limited scale next year at Tongi Ground. That's why I held the meeting today," Kamal said.

He said that last time the Ijtema was held in two phases in order to resolve the disagreement and it was held peacefully, adding, "This time too...the leader of one group is Maulana Zubair and the other group is Maulana Wasiful. Both of them worked for tabligh together earlier, but now they went separate."

"We invited them all and requested to hold the Ijtema peacefully. I also requested them to decide together - who will do it first, who will do it later, or you can do together. But they could not agree. Then, we have informed them that we will not change anything," the minister said.

He said that the Ijtema will be held as per previous time and both of them accepted it.

Kamal said that after the first phase of Ijtema, the stakeholders will hand over the ground to the administration and later the ground will be prepared for the second phase of the Ijtema.

State minister for Religious Affairs Ministry Md Faridul Haque Khan, State Minister for Youth and Sports Zahid Ahsan Russell, Cabinet Secretary Khandaker Anwarul Islam, Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun and other law enforcement officers were present in the meeting.