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World's Second-Largest Muslim Gathering

🕌 Biswa Ijtema

The annual congregation of Tablighi Jamaat on the banks of the Turag River in Tongi, Bangladesh — millions gather for prayer, learning, and the Akheri Munajat.

First phase begins in

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Dates below are provisional — pending official confirmation from organizers.

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Scholars

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Live Viewers Now

Figures are illustrative historical estimates, not live data — wired for a future analytics/API integration.

Live Dashboard

Awaiting event window

Event Status

Upcoming

Current Phase

First Phase (provisional)

Weather — Tongi

18°C, Clear

Crowd Level

No data yet

Today's Programs

Schedule opens once the event window begins.

Latest Announcement

No announcements published yet.

Journey Through the Years

Biswa Ijtema Timeline

Key milestones in the event's growth, from its early beginnings to today.

1960s

Early Tabligh gatherings begin taking shape in the Tongi area as the movement spreads across the region.

1970s – 80s

Attendance grows steadily; the gathering becomes an annual national fixture drawing visitors beyond Bangladesh.

1990s

Scale increases sharply; pontoon bridges across the Turag River become a defining feature of the event's infrastructure.

2000s

The event splits into two phases to manage the millions now attending, spreading logistics across two consecutive weekends.

2010s

International participation expands further, with dedicated foreign-delegation camps and multilingual bayan translation.

2020s

The gathering resumes and grows after pandemic-era disruptions, with improved transport, medical, and safety coordination.

2027

The next Biswa Ijtema — dates to be confirmed by organizers closer to the event.

150+

Countries represented

About

What is Biswa Ijtema?

Biswa Ijtema — meaning "World Congregation" in Bengali — is an annual gathering of Muslims organized by the Tablighi Jamaat movement on the banks of the Turag River in Tongi, on the outskirts of Dhaka, Bangladesh. It is widely regarded as the second-largest peaceful assembly of Muslims in the world after the Hajj pilgrimage to Makkah.

Why Millions Participate

The gathering centers on Tabligh — the grassroots practice of reminding one another of the fundamentals of faith, prayer, and good conduct — drawing worshippers from Bangladesh and dozens of other countries each year.

Renewal of Faith

Collective remembrance, prayer, and the company of practicing Muslims from around the world.

Structured Learning

Bayan sessions covering Quran, Hadith, and the practicalities of daily worship.

Global Unity

Attendees from dozens of countries camp, eat, and pray side by side regardless of background.

Akheri Munajat

The closing collective supplication is considered the spiritual high point of the event.

Event Information

Dates, Phases & Schedule

Exact dates are announced by organizers a few months in advance and may shift due to logistics or public holidays. The outline below reflects the typical structure of recent years — always confirm final dates from official Tablighi Jamaat Bangladesh announcements closer to the event.

First Phase

Typically the second or third Friday of January. Welcomes attendees from one set of designated districts and a group of international delegations.

Second Phase

Held the following week, welcoming the remaining districts and delegations, following the same three-day structure and closing with its own Akheri Munajat.

Typical Daily Schedule

Time Activity
FajrCongregational Fajr prayer followed by the first bayan of the day
MorningTa'lim (guided reading circles) in camp sections by language/district
ZuhrCongregational Zuhr prayer, followed by a bayan session
AsrCongregational Asr prayer; camp discussions and jamaat formation
MaghribCongregational Maghrib prayer, short dua session
IshaCongregational Isha prayer followed by the main evening bayan
Final DayAkheri Munajat (closing supplication) held mid-morning, drawing the largest crowds of the entire event

Prayer times follow the standard five daily prayers — see the Prayer Times tool on the homepage for exact local timings.

Live

Live Streaming & Updates

Official live streams are typically shared closer to the event by Tablighi Jamaat–affiliated channels. This player will be pointed at the confirmed stream once organizers publish it.

Status

No active phase right now — check back as dates approach.

Weather (Tongi)

January in Tongi is typically cool and dry, 12–24°C, with occasional morning fog. Pack a warm layer for early Fajr prayers.

Emergency Notices

Follow official Bangladesh Police and Fire Service & Civil Defence channels for real-time safety notices during the event.

Bayan & Scholarship

Scholars & Bayan Sessions

Senior Tablighi Jamaat elders and invited scholars deliver bayan throughout the event, often translated live into multiple languages for the international camps. Portraits below are placeholders pending confirmed speaker photography from organizers.

Senior Shura Elder

Bangladesh · Bengali & Urdu

Delivers the main morning bayan on faith, sincerity and daily practice. Session schedule confirmed on-site.

International Guest Speaker

South Asia · Multiple languages

Invited speakers address the foreign delegation camps, with consecutive translation for attending countries.

Akheri Munajat Leader

Bangladesh

Leads the closing collective supplication that marks the emotional climax of each phase.

Bayan Library

42:10

Opening Bayan — Faith & Intention

Bengali · 2026

18:32

Akheri Munajat — Full Audio

Bengali/Urdu · 2026

English Transcript — Evening Bayan

English · 2026

Recordings and transcripts are added after each Ijtema once organizers release them publicly. Watch/listen buttons will link to real media once published; downloads are prepared for a future release.

Worship

Prayer & Worship at the Ijtema

Salah & Congregation

All five daily prayers are held in congregation on the main maidan, led from a central stage with sound reaching every camp section.

Dua & Dhikr

Short collective dua follows most prayers, with individual dhikr encouraged throughout the day within camp circles.

Daily Amal & Adhkar

Morning and evening adhkar are read collectively in many camps — see the Quran & Dua section for reference texts.

Quran & Hadith References

Bayan sessions regularly cite Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim and the Quran — explore the full text in the Holy Islam Hadith library.

For International Visitors

Visitor Guide

Airports & Immigration

Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (DAC) in Dhaka is the main gateway, roughly 20–30 minutes from the Tongi Ijtema grounds by road. Check Bangladesh's visa-on-arrival and e-visa eligibility for your nationality before travel.

Hotels & Accommodation

Most attendees camp on-site; nearby Gazipur and Dhaka offer hotel options for those needing indoor accommodation, though rooms sell out quickly during Ijtema dates.

Transportation

Special train services and extra bus routes run to Tongi during Ijtema days. Roads around the venue see heavy restrictions — plan extra travel time.

Currency

The local currency is the Bangladeshi Taka (BDT). Currency exchange counters are available at Dhaka airport; carrying some cash is advisable as card acceptance is limited near the venue.

Local SIM & Emergency Contacts

Prepaid SIM cards are available at the airport. Bangladesh's national emergency number is 999 (police, fire, and ambulance).

Medical Services

Free on-site medical camps are staffed throughout the event, with ambulances on standby; Dhaka's major hospitals are within a short drive for serious cases.

On-Site

Camp Information

District & Country Camps

Numbered Entry Gates

Marked Walking Routes

Designated Parking Zones

Washrooms & Ablution Points

Food Courts & Stalls

Free Drinking Water Points

Medical Camps

Volunteer Help Centers

Lost & Found

Find Your Way

Ijtema Ground Map

An interactive map will appear here once official GIS coordinates for gates, camps, and facilities are published. Key zones below.

Entry Gates
Camps
Prayer Area
Medical Area
Toilets
Food
Parking
A Truly Global Gathering

Participating Countries

Tap a country card for estimated participation. A full geographic world map is planned once verified per-country attendance data is available — this directory works today on every device without heavy map libraries.

This is a representative sample, not an exhaustive list — attendees have historically come from over 150 countries.

Look Back

Year Archive

Schedule

Provisional — see Schedule section above

Scholars

To be announced

Photos & Videos

Published after the event

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Biswa Ijtema?

Biswa Ijtema is an annual gathering of Muslims organized by the Tablighi Jamaat movement in Tongi, Bangladesh, widely considered the world's second-largest peaceful Muslim assembly after Hajj.

Who can attend?

Any Muslim, from Bangladesh or abroad, is welcome to attend. International visitors typically join through their local Tablighi Jamaat contacts to be placed with the correct camp and delegation.

Is registration required?

There's no centralized public ticketing system. Attendees usually coordinate through their local Tablighi Jamaat markaz (center), which organizes travel and camp placement as part of a jamaat.

Where do attendees stay?

Most attendees camp on the open Ijtema grounds under simple tarpaulin shelters organized by district or country. Nearby hotels are an option for those unable to camp, though availability is limited.

Can women attend?

The main Ijtema gathering is predominantly attended by men on-site; women's participation and programs are generally organized separately through local Tablighi Jamaat structures — check with your local markaz for guidance.

What is the Akheri Munajat?

The Akheri Munajat is the closing collective supplication that marks the end of each phase, led by a senior scholar. It is the most heavily attended moment of the entire event.

Is food provided?

Many camps prepare communal meals for their members; food stalls also operate around the grounds. Visitors are generally advised to bring some provisions, especially for the first day.

How do I get there from Dhaka?

Special trains and extra bus services run between Dhaka and Tongi during Ijtema days. Roads near the venue face heavy restrictions, so public transport is strongly recommended over private cars.

Are prayer facilities available for everyone?

Yes — the entire maidan functions as an open-air prayer ground with sound reaching every camp, so all five daily prayers can be performed in congregation wherever you are seated.

What emergency contacts should I know?

Bangladesh's national emergency number is 999, covering police, fire and ambulance services. On-site medical camps and volunteer help centers can also assist directly.

Do international visitors need anything special?

Confirm Bangladesh's current visa requirements for your nationality, coordinate camp placement through your local Tablighi Jamaat contact in advance, and pack for cool January nights.

Stay Connected to Worship

Prayer Companion

A quick daily companion for the journey — full Salah times and Qibla direction live in the main Prayer Times tool on the homepage.

Salah Times

Full timetable for your location →

Qibla Direction

Find Qibla from Tongi or home →

Daily Dua

رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً

Daily Reminder

"Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest." — Quran 13:28

Learn

Islamic Knowledge & Etiquette

The Importance of Unity in Islam

The Quran repeatedly calls believers to hold together and avoid division (Quran 3:103). Gatherings like Biswa Ijtema embody this by bringing Muslims of different nationalities, languages and backgrounds to camp, eat and pray side by side.

Benefits of Attending

Attendees often describe renewed sincerity in worship, practical guidance for daily practice, and a strengthened sense of brotherhood after spending days immersed in prayer and learning alongside fellow Muslims.

Proper Etiquette During Large Gatherings

Patience, cleanliness, lowering the gaze, being gentle with the elderly and children, and cooperating with volunteers all reflect the Prophetic manner (sunnah) of good conduct in crowded settings.

Recommended Duas for Travel & Gatherings

The traveller's dua and the dua for entering a gathering are both established sunnah practices — see the full collection in the Holy Islam Dua library.

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