Dhaka, February 15 (HS): An elderly pilgrim died in Tongi, an industrial city in Gazipur district of Bangladesh, which is hosting the Vishwa Ijtema, a major religious event of Muslims. The second phase of the 58th Vishwa Ijtema started on Friday at the Ijtema ground on the banks of the Turag river in Tongi. Two devotees had died in its first phase as well.

According to The Daily Star newspaper, with the death of another pilgrim in the second phase of Vishwa Ijtema, the number of devotees who died in both the phases of this event has increased to three. The pilgrim who died at around 10:30 pm on Friday night is 60-year-old Mohammad Abdul Aziz. Media coordinator of Saad followers Mohammad Saim gave this information this morning. He said that two more pilgrims had died before this.

According to the Dhaka Tribune newspaper, the second phase of Vishwa Ijtema started on Friday morning. Mohammad Saim said that after the Ijtema Fajr prayers, famous Islamic scholars delivered sermons. Maulana Saad’s eldest son Maulana Yusuf bin Saad Kandhalvi, who came from India, led the Friday prayers at the Ijtema grounds. So far, 1,500 foreign pilgrims from 47 countries have come to the grounds to attend the World Ijtema. Lakhs of Muslims from Dhaka, Gazipur and Savar and surrounding areas attended the prayers. Dowry-free marriages will be conducted at the Ijtema today. The Ijtema will conclude with the last Munajat (last prayer) on Sunday. He said the army and the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority have built a floating bridge over the river for the smooth movement of pilgrims.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar