TONGI: The Akheri Munajat (concluding prayer) of the second phase of Biswa Ijtema has started Sunday morning on the banks of Turag river in Tongi seeking divine blessings for Muslim Ummah.

Indian Islamic scholar Mawlana Saad has begun the Akheri Munajat  at 11:24 am.

Thousands of devotees from home and abroad have joined the concluding prayer of the 50th congregation of Muslims defying chilling weather, drizzling and nationwide blockade to attend

Devotees are facing immense suffering as their beds and other belongings got wet in the rain water amid cold weather.

However, the second largest Muslim congregation after the holy Hajj began on early Friday with religious sermons delivered by Pakistani Islamic scholar Maulana Ismail Hossain Godrar after the Fajr prayers.

The devotees from the 33 districts along with hundreds of foreign devotees joined the second phase which began on Friday through delivering Amboyan amidst ongoing blockade of the BNP-led alliance.

The districts are Narayanganj, Dhaka, Cox's Bazar, Manikganj, Pirojpur, Patuakhali, Tangail, Jamalpur, Barisal, Netrakona, Comilla, Meherpur, Jhenidah, Mymensingh, Laxmipur, Brahmanbaria, Kurigram, Bogra, Panchagarh, Chapainawabganj, Nilphamari, Noakhali, Thakurgaon, Pabna, Naogaon, Munshiganj, Madaripur, Gopalganj, Satkhira, Kushtia, Magura, Sunamganj, Khulna and Moulvibazar, said organizers.

The religious event includes delivering boyans (sermons) on the fundamental issues of Tabligh, prayer for the spiritual adoration, exaltation and welfare of the Muslim Ummah.

The first phase of Biswa Ijtema was held at the same venue on January 09-11.

BDST: 1118 HRS, JAN 18, 2015