News Desk
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) on Thursday issued car parking management directives ahead of the second phase of 56th Bishwa Ijtema, the second largest congregation of Muslims after the holy hajj.
Devotees from different parts of the country have come for the second phase of Bishwa Ijtema. The DMP has instructed the vehicles transporting the devotees not to park on the main roads of Tongi and Uttara.
They were instructed to park in the specific places that DMP designated, said Deputy Commissioner Nabid Kamal Shaibal, told the media.
“The second phase of Ijtema is going to begin on Friday. We have given parking instructions to avoid traffic jams. We request the pilgrims to follow this instruction,” he added.
As per the instructions, vehicles will not be allowed to park on either side of the road from Khilkhet via Abdullahpur to Dhaur Bridge.
Section-wise space has been allocated for keeping vehicles of pilgrims coming for Ijtema. The places are —
Dhaka and Chittagong Division: BGMEA Building under Uttara Sector no-16, on the slope of bridges no-10, no-11, and no-5.
Sylhet Division: Uttara Sector no-15, bridge no-2 slope to Ulodaha field.
Khulna Division: The vacant place of Uttara Sector no-17 and 18 (Boubazar ground).
Rangpur, Rajshahi, and Mymensingh Division: Prottasha Housing.
Barisal Division: BIWTA Landing Station adjacent to Dhaur Bridge Crossing.
Dhaka Metropolis: Vacant space in the 300ft road area.
According to the instructions, during the parking of vehicles carrying pilgrims at designated places, the driver and helper must remain in the car and the owner and driver must keep each other’s mobile numbers so that they can communicate with each other immediately in case of special needs.
The Bishwa Ijtema was suspended for the last two years due to the Covid pandemic.
However, this year Bishwa Ijtema is being held in a befitting manner.
The Dhaka Metropolitan Police has given permission to the BNP to hold its mass procession in Dhaka on Friday.
“The DMP has given us permission to hold a mass rally from 2pm to 5pm on Friday,” BNP Vice Chairman Dr AZM Zahid Hossain told Bangla Tribune on Tuesday.
The decision was taken in a meeting between Dr AZM Zahid Hossain and DMP Commissioner Khandaker Golam Faruq on Tuesday. BNP International Affairs Secretary Advocate Masud Ahmed Talukder was also present.
The BNP has asked for the cooperation of the DMP so that the procession can be held on the route of its choice, he said.
However, he could not say whether the DMP had given any assurance on that matter.
“Our main objective now is to make the mass procession successful and worthwhile,” he said.
“The mass processions will start at Naya Paltan,” he added.
“It will start after Jummah prayers. Senior leaders of the BNP will be present there. The BNP is a democratic party and we believe in a democratic polity,” the BNP leader said.
The Dhaka procession of the BNP was supposed to be held on Saturday with simultaneous countrywide protests at the district and metropolitan levels with like-minded parties.
However, the BNP rescheduled the rally at the request of Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader as the rally coincided with the ruling party’s national council.