The 38th edition of the International Shahadat-e-Karbala Mahfil will take place at the Jamiatul Falah National Mosque in Chattogram from July 20 to July 29.
Islamic scholars from home and abroad will come up with their deliberations on the dedication and supreme sacrifice for Islam by the Karbala martyrs.
This year, the sajjadnashin of the shrine of Hazrat Abdul Quader Jilani in Baghdad and a direct decedent of the great scholar, Syed Afif Uddin Al-Mansoor Al-Jilani, will grace the occasion. Besides, Gaziye Millat Syed Hasemi Mia Al Jilani and Syed Nurani Mia Al Jilani from Kaswasa Darbar Sharif in Uttar Pradesh of India, the khatib of Tipu Sultan Jame Mosque in Kolkata Shahsufi Sakhawat Hossain Barkati and other acclaimed scholars will also deliver sermons in the 10-day event. Internationally acclaimed Qari Shaikh Ahmad Bin Yusuf Al Azhari will recite from the holy Quran at the mahfil every day.
The organisers this year decided not to prolong the mahfil and conclude every day’s session by 10pm. They also decided to use public address system at a reduced scale considering public sufferings. Besides, there will be special arrangements for women to attend the mahfil.
The mahfil organising committee chairman, Sufi Mohammed Mizanur Rahman, also chairman of the PHP Family, provided the details of the upcoming event at a press conference held at the S Rahman Hall of Chattogram Press Club on Monday.
Highlighting the significance of the month of Muharram, Sufi Mizanur Rahman explained that it marks the beginning of the Hijri New Year and holds great historical and global importance.
He recounted the tragic events that took place in Karbala, where the innocent members of Ahle Bait, including Imam Hussain (Ra), were mercilessly martyred by the forces of Yazid, a sworn enemy of the Prophet’s family, on Muharram 10 of 61 Hijri.
The bravery and resilience displayed by Imam Hussain and his followers in the face of Yazidi oppression left an indelible mark on the history of Islam, he said, their unwavering commitment to Islam, truth, and justice fortified the foundations of the religion.
Sufi Mizanur, an Ekushey Padak winning philanthropist, said the unprecedented sacrifice of Imam Hussain proved that Islam is a faith of peace and humanity.
The commemoration of the martyrdom of Ahlul Bait holds immense significance in keeping the spirit of the Muslims alive and fostering dedication towards faith and truth, he said and urged everyone to contribute to the splendour and success of the mahfil according to their abilities.
Professor Mohammad Zafar Ullah of Chittagong University, Shahadat-e-Karbala Mahfil Parichalana Parshad Publicity Secretary Dilshad Ahmed and Joint Secretary Prof Kamal Uddin Ahmed, Anjuman Trust Senior Vice President Mohammad Mohsin, Secretary General Anwar Hossain, Jamiatul Falah Mosque Khatib Maulana Abu Taleb M Alauddin, PHP Family Director (Finance) and Chief Coordinator of Mahfil Committee Ali Hossain Sohag, Gausia Committee Bangladesh Chairman Pear Mohammad, Businessman Alamgir Parvez, Khorshedur Rahman, Sirajul Mostafa, Mohammad Saifuddin, Zafar Ahmad Saudagar, Abdul Hai Masum, Hafez Salamat Ullah, Capt Enamul Haque, SM Safi, Mahbubul Alam, Mansoor Shikder, Khorshed Ali Chowdhury, Hafez Ahmadul Haque, Hafez Zalar Uddin, Mainuddin Mithu, Md Sahabuddin, Zahir Uddin, Sharif Uddin Zongi, Prof Ohidul Alam, among others, were present at the press conference.
