Bishwa Ijtema

Many Muslims meet for a big event. It is in a place called Tongi. People come from many lands. They come from 150 different countries.

This meeting is called the Bishwa Ijtema. It is a very large gathering. People listen to teachers talk. They also say special prayers.

Volunteers help the people. They give out free food. They also give out places to sleep.

Many people come to pray for peace. They raise their hands to God. They want the world to be calm.

This is one of the biggest meetings in the world. It is a special time for many people.

The Bishwa Ijtema is a huge meeting for Muslims. It happens every year in Tongi, Bangladesh. The name means "world conference."

Many people join this event. It is one of the largest peaceful gatherings on Earth. About 5 million people have attended. People come from 150 different countries. Most come from Bangladesh.

The meeting lasts for three days. During this time, people listen to scholars. These teachers talk about the Quran. The Quran is a holy book.

Volunteers help the guests. They provide free meals and places to sleep. To stay organized, the field is split into parts. These parts are called khitta.

The event ends with a final prayer. This is called the Akheri Munajat. Millions of people raise their hands. They pray to Allah for peace in the world.

Because so many people come, the event is sometimes split into two parts. This helps manage the large crowds. It is a very important time for the people there.

The Bishwa Ijtema is a massive annual gathering for Muslims. It takes place in Tongi, near the banks of the Turag River in Bangladesh. The name comes from two different languages. "Bishwa" is a Bengali word meaning "world" or "global." "Ijtema" is an Arabic word for a "public gathering" or "conference." Together, the name means "world conference."

This event is a sign of Muslim unity and mutual respect. It is one of the largest peaceful gatherings in the world. In 2010, about 5 million people attended the event.

The gathering lasts for three days, usually from Friday to Sunday. During this time, people perform daily prayers together. They also listen to scholars who explain verses from the Quran. The Quran is the central religious text for Muslims.

The event starts with an opening sermon called Ambayan. It ends with a special final prayer known as the Akheri Munajat. During this prayer, millions of people raise their hands to pray to Allah for world peace.

Many people attend only the final prayer because it is so important.

Organizing such a huge event is a very big job. The gathering is held in a large open field of 160 acres. To keep things organized, the area is divided into sections called khitta. People find their spot using a khitta number and a pole number.

Because there are so many people, the event is sometimes split into two or even four phases. This helps manage the crowds and the space. Volunteers help by providing free meals and places to sleep for the guests.

The history of this meeting goes back many years. The first local conference was held in 1946 at the Kakrail Mosque. In 1967, the government allowed the event to move to its current home in Tongi. This change happened because the number of people was growing so fast. Since then, it has become the Bishwa Ijtema.

It is a modern event where joining is entirely voluntary. People come from many different places to be part of it.

People travel from all over the world to attend. Devotees come from about 150 different countries. Some come from Russia, Europe, and the United States. Many others come from the South Asian subcontinent. Most of the visitors come from Bangladesh, which has the third-largest Muslim population in the world. To help everyone get there, state-run companies provide trains and buses. This huge meeting shows how people from many different lands can come together for one purpose.

The Bishwa Ijtema is a massive annual Islamic congregation held in Tongi, Bangladesh. Located on the banks of the River Turag, this event serves as a demonstration of Muslim unity and solidarity. It is a voluntary gathering where devotees reiterate their commitment to Islamic values. The name itself reflects its scale, combining the Bengali word "Bishwa," meaning global, with the Arabic word "Ijtema," meaning public gathering.

This makes the name a translation for "world conference" or "global congregation."

This event is one of the largest peaceful gatherings on Earth. It is the second-largest Muslim gathering in the world, with approximately 5 million adherents. To put this in perspective, it is larger than the Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, which sees 2 to 3 million worshipers. However, it is smaller than the Arba'in pilgrimage in Iraq, which attracts 15 to 20 million people.

Despite its enormous scale, the Bishwa Ijtema remains relatively underreported in Western media.

The congregation typically lasts for three days, spanning from Friday to Sunday. The schedule begins with the Ambayan, which is an opening sermon held after Jumua prayers. During the event, participants perform daily prayers and listen to scholars interpret verses from the Quran. The Quran is the central religious text of Islam.

The gathering concludes with the Akheri Munajat, a final prayer or supplication. During this moment, millions of devotees raise their hands to pray to Allah for world peace. While many people attend only the final prayer, it is the most significant part of the event.

Organizing a gathering of millions requires complex logistical coordination. The event takes place in a 160-acre open field provided by the Government of Bangladesh. To manage the massive crowds, the area is divided into specific sections called khitta. Participants locate their specific spot using a combination of a khitta number and a pole number.

Because of the extreme density of people, the event has been split into multiple phases to manage accommodation. In 2012, authorities began bifurcating the Ijtema into two phases. By 2015, they expanded this into four segments to better distribute the crowds from different Bangladeshi districts.

Infrastructure and safety are managed through cooperation between various groups. The Government of Bangladesh assists by creating an extensive tent area. State-run companies, including Biman Bangladesh Airlines and the Bangladesh Railway, provide essential transport. The Bangladesh Armed Forces help arrange the necessary infrastructure. Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Police and the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) manage security. Interestingly, devotees often follow a minimalist approach. This helps reduce problems with sanitation and cooking, even within a confined space.

The history of the Bishwa Ijtema shows a long period of growth. The first regional conference of the Tablighi Jamaat was held in 1946 at the Kakrail Mosque. As participation grew, the event moved through several locations, including Chittagong and Narayanganj. In 1967, the government of East Pakistan allowed the event to move to its current venue in Tongi. This move allowed the gathering to evolve into the global event it is today.

In recent years, the event has seen fluctuations in attendance, with 2 million people in 2001 and 5 million in 2010.

Participants come from a vast array of international backgrounds. Devotees represent approximately 150 different countries. While the majority come from Bangladesh, others travel from Russia, Central Asia, Europe, and the United States. The event is non-political and draws people of many different persuasions. It serves as a unique intersection of global religious practice and large-scale community organization.