Sylhet Representative/

A two-day ‘self-purification’ ijtema has started in Sylhet from today. This ijtema was initiated by the non-political organization ‘Anjumane Hefazte Islam Bangladesh’ founded by the famous elder Sheikhul Islam Allama Lutfur Rahman Varnavi (retd.) of the subcontinent.

Today Thursday (November 17) after the Fajr prayer, the Ijtemaati started at the central truck terminal in South Surma Parairchak of Sylhet. This event of ‘self-purification’ will end with the last prayer at 10 am on Friday.

Two days ago, the organizers have completed all the preparations with the target of gathering lakhs of worshipers in the Ijtema. Sylhet City Corporation Mayor Ariful Haque Chowdhury has extended support to them. He also provided the newly added ‘mobile toilet’ to the CC at the Ijtema ground for the convenience of the worshippers. There are also CSIC water filled tank cars.

This Ijtemar has been organized on the occasion of the 77th anniversary of ‘Anjumane Hefazete Islam Bangladesh’, a movement with the mission of house-to-house invitation, social reform and turning everyone into a golden person.

Anjumane Hefazte Islam Bangladesh Central Nayeb Amir Maulana Saidur Rahman Varnavi presided over the 1st session today after Fajr prayers. Amir Mufti Maulana Muhammad Rashidur Rahman Farooq Varnabi presented the opening speech.

Then Maulana Shamsuddin Kasemi (Jamalpur), Maulana Muhammad Ali (Sirajganj) and Maulana Imam Hossain (Jamalpur) gave speeches in the first session.

After a short break, the second session began. It was presided over by Mao. Muhibbul Haque (Gachbari, Maoist Muhiul Islam Burhan (Renga), Maoist Abdul Qadir (Bagharkhali), Maoist Hussain Noori Chowdhury (Nabiganj), Maoist Majduddin (Bharthakhla) and Maoist Emdadullah (Katia).

Mao made a speech. Abdullah Muhammad Hasan (Bahadurpur), Mao. Abdul Hamid (Madhupuri), Mao. Zikrullah Khan (Dhaka), Mufti Faizullah Shahebzada Belayat. (Dhaka), Dr. Mushtaq Ahmad (Dhaka), Mao. Sajidur Rahman (B-Baria), Mao. Mushtaq Ahmad (Khulna), Mao. Hamid Zaheri (Dhaka), Mao. Golamur Rahman (Khulna), Mao. Jalal Ahmad (Satkhira), Mao. Ubaidur Rahman Mahbub (Barisal), Maulana Anas Saheb (Bhola), Mao. Abdul Malik (Bhola), Mao. Abdul Basit Khan (Sirajganj) and Mao. Akram Ali (Madaripur).

The session lasted till 12 noon. A break for food and prayers is given from 12 noon to 1:30 a.m. The third session started from half past noon. In various sessions till 10:00 p.m. local and foreign gurus and famous scholars and Dairas of Din will present their discourses. The program of the first day will be announced at 10 pm.

On Thursday morning, on the ground, it was seen that the volunteers were blocking the vehicles coming from different parts of the country, including Sylhet, at the bypass of the Sylhet-Fenchuganj road. This is being done so that there is no chaos or traffic jam on the Sylhet-Fenchuganj road around Ijtema. Pilgrims are going to Ijtemasthal on foot from the mouth of the bypass.

It can be seen that the worshipers got down from the car at the mouth of the bypass and walked in a row towards Ijtemasthal. By 10:30 am, the pandal was almost filled with thousands of devotees. Pilgrims can be seen flocking to Ijtema.

Volunteers of the organizing committee are engaged in maintaining order on the Ijtema grounds and around the grounds and on the roads. On the right side of the field there are urinals and ablution facilities. There are showers and motorcycle parking facilities at the front. Sylhet City Corporation vehicles are also in the field for food and water. Besides, there is a ‘mobile toilet’ of CSIC next to the field.

A team of Moglabazar thana police is engaged in security.