Largest Muslim congregation after Haj begins in Bangladesh

DHAKA: The ‘Biswa Ijtema’ (global congregation), which is considered the world’s second-largest Muslim gathering after Haj, started on Friday in Tongi on the outskirts of Bangladesh capital Dhaka.

An estimated five million devotees from home and abroad are expected to attend the congregations this year.

Devotees from around 150 countries across the globe including Saudi Arabia, UAE, Pakistan, Iran, India, Syria, Chad, Tajikistan, Turkiye, Afghanistan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Kuwait, Oman, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Yemen, Ethiopia, Myanmar, South Africa, Egypt, Palestine, Germany, France, Sudan, Nigeria, Italy, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the US — are expected to attend the congregation in 2024.

Bangladesh Deputy High Commissioner to Pakistan Mahbub said this year around 1,000 devotees from Pakistan are expected to attend the Biswa Ijtema in Bangladesh.

“Our missions in Pakistan have already issued necessary visas to the devotees,” he said.

This year the congregation is going to take place in two phases: first one from February 2 to 4 and the second from February 9 to 12.

“Bangladesh, the world’s third largest Muslim majority country, is the proud and permanent host of the Ijtema (congregation) for last 57 years,” Mambub said.