Staff Reporter: The second phase of the first part of the three-day Bishwa Ijtema, the second-largest congregation of Muslims, ended today on the banks of the Turag River in Tongi with Akheri Munajat.
 
Maulana Mohammad Zubair conducted the prayers from 12.08pm to 12.27 pm, according to the Ijtema organising committee.
 
After Fajr prayers, Farooq Sahib, a senior Tabligh leader from Bangalore, India, delivered a sermon which was translated by Mufti Amanul Haque Sahib.
 
Around 10:00am, Maulana Abdur Rahman Sahib of India gave another sermon, translated by Maulana Abdul Matin Sahib of Bangladesh.
 
The first phase of the first part of the Bisgwa Ijtema ended on February 2, while the second phase commenced on February 3.
 
The third phase of the Bishwa Ijtema, for followers of Maulana Saad Kandhalvi, is scheduled to begin for February 14-16.
 
Meanwhile, two more devotees attending the Bishwa Ijtema passed away at the Ijtema venue early today, bringing the total death toll to nine across both phases of the gathering.
 
The deceased were Sujabat Ali Sarkar, 75, and Md Shamsul Alam, 60.
 
Habibullah Raihan, media coordinator of Shurai Nezam, Tabligh Jamaat Bangladesh, confirmed the information to the media.

Biniyougbarta/sam//