The three-day Biswa Ijtema of Tablig Jamaat at Tongi concluded yesterday with Akheri Munajat seeking divine blessings for continued peace, progress and prosperity of the Muslim Ummah.

Lakhs of Muslims from home and abroad gathered on the bank of the river Turag and joined the munajat.

The ijtema venue and the adjoining areas virtually turned into a human sea as lakhs of Muslim devotees Joined the munajat even sitting on the streets, pavements and roof tops of the adjacent buildings.

A senior member of World

Tablig Jamaat Hazrat Maulana Saad of Delhi led the munajat that began at 12 noon and continued for about 25 minutes.

President Shahabuddln Ahmed. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Opposition Leader Begum Khaleda Zia. cabinet ministers. high government officials and diplomats of the Muslim countries in Dhaka also joined the munajat.

President Shahabuddln Ahmed was present on the dais while Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina offered her munajat sit-’ ting on the roof top of a nearby factory building of Bata shoe company.

Opposition Leader Begum Khaleda Zia offered her muna-Jat staying in a room of nearby Ashraf Textile Mill.

Moulana Saad during munajat in Urdu and Arabic language sought help from the Almighty Allah in preaching Islam throughout the world.

He also urged for strengthening the command of Allah and Prophet among the Muslim Ummah.

A large number of women and children also took part in the munajat sitting on the rooftops of nearby houses and high-rise buildings.

Movement of all kinds of motorised vehicles from Airport to Joydevpur Square remained stalled as thousands of people rushed toward the Ijtema ground on foot. The movement of vehicles resumed sifter the conclusion of the munajat.

The devotees also faced tremendous difficulties in returning home aS all modes of transports were packed. They had to struggle hard for getting a place in the buses, mini-buses and trains.

Bangladesh Railway operated a number of special trains between Dhaka and Tongi for transporting the Ijtema devotees.

The bus and mini-bus operators charged exorbitant fees from the passengers while transporting them to various destinations.

Many.devotees became sick after joining the Ijtema due to . weakness and other health-related problems. A total of 50 devotees were admitted to the nearby 50-bed Tongi hospital. Another 14 were referred to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

Besides, several thousand people were given first aid at the temporary medical centres set up by the government's health department and different voluntary and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

The health department also distributed 60,000 bags of or-saline and one lakh water purification tablets among the devotees.