Gazipur: The concluding prayer (Akheri Munajat) of the second phase of three-day 53rd Biswa Ijtema, the second largest Muslim congregation after the Hajj, began on the banks of Turag River at Tongi in Gazipur on Sunday morning.

Senior most Imam (Pesh Imam) of Kakrail Jame Mosque Mawlana Md Jubaer is conducting the concluding prayer seeking peace, happiness and wellbeing of the Muslim Ummah.

The prayer began at about 10:25am.

Around 25 lakh people from all walks of life, including cabinet members, lawmakers, professionals and political leaders, are expected to join the Akheri Munajat of the second phase of Biswa Ijtema before the Zohr prayers.

The second phase of Biswa Ijtema formally began with ‘ambayan’ (general sermon) after Fazr prayers at dawn on Friday (January 19) amid tight security.

Earlier, the first phase of the three-day Ijtema ended on January 14 that began at the same venue after Fazr prayers on January 12 with ‘ambayan’ (general sermon).

Noted ulema-mashaekhs in their sermons stressed following the guidance of the holy Quran and Sunnah. The sermons were translated into different languages of the world.

From beginning of the three-day Ijtema, including the first and second phases, a total of six devotees with two foreigner, died at the Ijtema ground till filing the report due to old age complication coincided with the cold weather, said Tongi Model Thana Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mohammad Firoz Talukder.

‘The two foreigner devotees were identified as Nesar Bin Rahman, in his fifties, of Malaysia and Abdur Rahman Jumba, around 60 years old, of Zimbabwe,’ the OC said, adding that both of them were laid to eternal rest in the Ijtema ground.

However, the bodies of the local devotees, identified as Kazi Azizul Haque, in his sixties, Abdul Mamun, around 30 years old, Md Shahidullah, believed to be in his sixties, and Mahar Ali, in his sixties, were sent to their respective villages after namaz-e-janaza at the Ijtema ground, he said.

Tablig Jamaat has been organising the Biswa Ijtema on the bank of Turag River since 1967. Now Ijtema is being held in two phases since 2011 to deal with overcrowding and ensure better management and security, an organiser said.