Tag: train

 Muslims Congregation in Bangladesh 

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The Bishwajit Ijtema meaning Global Congregation is an annual gathering of Muslims in Tongi, by the banks of the River Turag, in the outskirts of Dhaka, Bangladesh. It is the second largest Islamic congregation after the Hajj. Ijtema is an Arabic word which means public gathering. In Bengali, the event is known as the “Bishwa Ijtema”. Bishwa is a Bengali word which means world. Every year thousands of Muslims gathered and join the Ijtema is a prayer meeting spread over three days, during which attending devotees perform daily prayers while listening to scholars reciting and explaining verses from the Quran. It is attended by devotees from 150 countries.Speakers include Islamic scholars from various countries.

In this year devotees from home and abroad were seen streaming towards the gathering site on the 1st phases 15-17 January 2017. According to organizers, around three million people have taken part in the final prayers,During the Final Prayer,huge crowds stretch from the Ijtema ground in Tongi into the Dhaka metropolitan area. Schools and offices are declared closed on the occasion.

The Bengali Tabhlighi Jamaat movement started in Dhaka, East Bengal during the 1950s. The first Ijtemas were organized in Chittagong 1954 and Narayangonj 1958 followed by Ijtemas at the Ramna Race Course in Dhaka in 1960, 1962 and 1965 Due to the increasing rate of participants, the government of East Pakistan allowed organizers to schedule the event annually by the River Turag in Tongi 1967. As the number of participants increased, The government of Bangladesh allotted 160 acres of land was acquired and developed as a permanent Ijtema ground in Tongi.

The Ijtema is considered a demonstration of Muslim unity, solidarity, mutual love and respect and an opportunity to reiterate their commitment to Islamic values.

© Monirul Alam
© Monirul Alam
© Monirul Alam
Note: For use Editorial or Feature please contact witnessphoto@gmail.com

POD pictures of the day ZUMA PRESS | August 2012

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Aug. 18, 2012 – Dhaka, Bangladesh – People climb onto the roof of an overcrowded train at the Airport Railway Station as they travel back to their homes ahead of Eid al-Fitr. Millions of city dwellers travel back to their villages to celebrate the festival which marks the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. (Credit Image: © Monirul Alam/ZUMAPRESS.com)

Visit: ZUMA PRESS

Colors of lives . . .

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© Monirul Alam

I ride my motorbike full of speed! Yes, now Dhaka city is almost empty no traffic jams in the main road, except a few of bas, train and launch terminal. The residences of Dhaka were leave on to their village ahead of Eid-Ul-Fitr celebration with their loved ones.

Yes, within twenty minutes we (my fellow photojournalist Abir Abdullah, works with epa) went at airport train station. We came here to takes photos for our news coverage. I look around on the station number of home bound people is waiting for train with their luggage.

The commuter train will become form the Dhaka station and go to other district. On the station I look around a group of garment worker sit on the station platform and they are gossiping each other.  I talked with them, one of garment workers Rehana Begum said, we are waiting for Dawangonj based train, we know inside the train full of passengers, we don’t have any other alternate way to go our village; so we prepared to ride on the train roofs for our Eid traveling- we are used too, that kind of journey.

© Monirul Alam

When the train is arrive on the station, I just look around it is already full of passenger inside and a few passenger sits on the roof of the train while I saw- Rehana climb up on the train roof, her other fellow helps him to ride on the train roof, I think it is risking journey for her but she is still smiling. I took many pictures on the station during the people movements- within a few minutes the train left on the station. I look back on the train its  full of passenger on the roof.

When we back from the train station, I looked on the station floor a mini cat stands on the empty newspapers shop, a beautiful light is fallen on, a mini cat is really enjoying with morning light- my camera is played on, I cannot find the shop owner may be he is busy with other things; I think- maybe other story will be started  . . .

18 August, 2012 Dhaka

moniurl alam

People’s takes risky Journey for Celebrate Eid-ul-Azha in Bangladesh

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I was their around 6.30 am. on the Dhaka airport train station to cover the people’s train journey on upcoming Eid Holidays. Thousands of home bound people left Dhaka and to go to their village town celebrating Eid with their loved ones.  Yes, it wills an amazing to see when train arrives on the station. I stand on the foot over bridge to take photos and observe the whole situation.

© Monirul Alam

 At that time one of train passenger came to me and asked, Are you journalist and said , I came here yesterday at  6.00 pm. to go to my home town in Lal Monirhat but my train is not to coming on time and authority said, It will possible to come around at 8.00 or 9.00 am these morning ! I am just waiting for long time and spend 200 tk. for my food; I spent one night on the station platform and fall sick.

I looked him and pay attention his problem but not to find any solution. I think this is our system every Eid holidays home bound people are regularly facing these problem.  Atik Hossain  work in a garments factory in the Dhaka city, he also said, I don’t have any ticket yet, my train name Rangpur Express, maybe I will try to ride on the train roof, I know it’s a risky journey but I don’t have any other way.

I am really pained at heart to read today’s news paper Eight people  died falling off the roof of running trains in Tangail and Bogra district on Friday night and yesterday. But people are not to pay much attention and not to bother about the news. I think people really mad to go their village any way. But the painful news is that every year home bound people take these risks by train, launch and bus journey and is in occurred an accident.  

© Monirul Alam

However, when the train arrives in the station, it’s already overcrowded look like a human sea. Within a few minutes people rush on the train and agitate each other to boarding on the train. Finally they are happy to go to their home to take a risky journey on the train roof. I hope to safe their journey and to celebrate the Eid-al-Azha with their loved ones.

Eyewitness, monirul alam, Dhaka, Bangladesh. 06. November 2011. http://monirul.photoshelter.com/

 

 

 

Turn Human Sea | Eid Journey in Bangladesh

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Thousand of Bangladeshi people along with mass garment workers are leaving from the capital of Dhaka, on Tuesday. They are going to their home town is in celebrating Eid-ul-Fitar. Eid-ul-Fitar is the largest Muslim’s religious festival. After the whole month of fasting in Ramadan the Muslim’s around the world will be celebrate their religious festival.

A number of home bound people are waiting in a airport railway station for train. But the train is not to come on time, because of rush schedule and mismanagement said a passenger Ahmed, who are waiting for train, he around on the station an one and half hour’s for waiting Rangpure Express.

When the train arrives is in station, it’s already overcrowded look like a human sea. Within a few minutes people rush on the train and agitate each other when they ride on the train roof. A garments worker, Shafali Bagum said, we are straggling on the way of our risky  journey, but we are finally happy to go to our home and celebrate Eid-ul-Fitar with our loved  ones.”  Reports, monirul alam, Dhaka, Bangladesh. 30 September 2011.

Leave Dhaka | Eid-ul-Fitr

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 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DeO3OvxwyRM

 Bangladeshi Muslims overcrowd a train as others wait their turn for transport to head home ahead of Eid al-Fitr in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on 20 August. Eid al-Fitr marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan. August 2011.© Monirul Alam

© Monirul Alam

 

Thousand of Bangladeshi people move from Dhaka by train, bas and launch for celebration the Eid-ul-Fitr with their relatives who live in village. The Eid-ul Fitar is a muslims largest religious festival in Bangladesh. After a month-long fasting, Muslims sought divine blessings, peace, progress and prosperity in Eid congregations across the country.

 

EID TRAVEL | Dhaka

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Dhaka city is now like turning human sea home bound people madly rush on the bus,train and launch station for celebrating  country’s second biggest religious festival Eid-Ul-Azha. Number of cattle market occupied on the main road traffic system is already collapse but people not to stop just moving and moving. I think  they are determined to go to  their village and celebrate Eid with their loved ones.

Tongi Station. November 2010. Hundreds of homebound passenger crowd the roofs of train risking their lives to meet their kins and share the joy of Eid festivity.Copy Right:Monirul Alam

We  just wait at Tongi rail station to take photos for our news coverage. I look around on the station number of people is waiting for train. The commuter train will be come from Dhaka station and go to other district. I see a few of garments worker just sitting on the station, I talked with them, Salma Begum said, The train was supposed to be here at 4.30 pm, now it’s 6.20 pm but not to arrive we just waiting hour and hour’s but we are happy  to go to my house, like Salma thousand of train passengers waited for  long time.

When the train is arrive on the station I just look, it is  already full of passenger inside and roof of the train while I see Salma just left her shoes and thrown the train roofs and than she climbs up on the train roofs, I think it is risking journey for her but Salma is smiling me and say good bye bhaiya Eid Mubarak. I took many pictures of Salma and her friends. Within a few minutes the train is left from the station at the same time I leave on the station and  started my motor bike to returning my office news editor have been waiting for my picture  . . .

16 November, 2010 Dhaka, Tuesday


HUMAN TRAIN | DHAKA

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On the way of my office long time I standing near the Mintu road with my motorbike causes  huge  traffic jam. A bas contractor  insisting me-ride your motorbike on the footpath and safe your time. He said, bhai footpath re upper deya jan, boya takle shomoy nosto hoibo. I think as a responsible person I don’t go the wrong way . . .

Dhaka. Human Train Copy Right:Monirul Alam

Within a few  minute’s  I see most of the motorbike rider- ride their motorbike on the footpath- like parent with his  kids,security forces,Journalist and many more. After while a  contractor smiling for me, and said how foolish you are !

In the day time all street are occupied and  gridlock by the  bus,private car, rickshaw street hacker. Political parties and other organization  doing their regular activities on the busy street without concern law and other people’s right.

Dhaka city people are now crazy. If your could closely observe than you see  within a minute  more incident is happening  even that each other beat of them for funny things, every day of their daily chats.

Lawlessness, respecting each other and dignity is gradually  lost form the people’s  life. It is establish that We lost our believe. We  all are busy and mad crazy going faster and faster- but the result in ZERO.

On that days I also covering an assignment at Faculty of Fine Arts ( Charukola Dhaka University)  An eminent Japanese sculptor SETSU SUZUKI  for his exhibition opening. He said,  my first visit I see huge number of people live in the dhaka city. He also said   my HUMAN TOWER installation is more relevant for the Bangladeshi people. I think as a foreign artiest within a short time to read our society.

8 November, 2010 Dhaka, Monday