South Asia News

Bangladesh Islamic meeting ends with call for peace

Feb 1, 2009, 8:28 GMT

Dhaka - A three-day annual Islamic congregation concluded Sunday in Bangladesh with more than 3 million people praying for global peace and prosperity, officials said. An Islamic scholar from India led the concluding prayer at Biswa Ijtema, the second-largest Muslim gathering after the hajj, in Tongi, some 35 kilometres north of the capital Dhaka. On the final day, the crowd exceeded the boundaries of the 5-square kilometre venue as tens of thousands of people travelled overnight on overcrowded buses and trains from across the country to join the concluding prayer. Traffic on the highway linking several northern districts with capital was stalled for hours as the devotees occupied the pavement to seek the blessings. President Iajuddin Ahmed, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wazed and leader of the opposition in Parliament Khaleda Zia joined the prayer session. Organizers said more than 10,000 foreign pilgrims from 105 Muslim countries attended the event.

South Asia News

Bangladesh Islamic meeting ends with call for peace

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