From a highway in Tongi, on the outskirts of Dhaka in Bangladesh, Azim Khan Ronnie surveyed his fellow worshippers. Ronnie, a Bangladeshi who now lives in France, had travelled back to his home country to attend Bishwa Ijtema. The annual meeting of millions of Muslims from around the world is the second largest Islamic congregation after the hajj, in Mecca.
“Every inch of tarmac and pavement was filled with worshippers,” Ronnie recalls. “Thousands of Muslims gathered to pray, bringing buses and lorries to a grinding halt. Many passengers were praying; the drivers were, too. In the background we could see the colourful tents where the pilgrims sleep. Some of the buildings also act as shelters.”
A peaceful, reflective event, Bishwa Ijtema sees scholars reciting verses from the Qur’an and regular prayers. The photographer took this shot in 2020, during jummah, Friday prayers, on his Huawei P30 Pro, applying minimal edits. In 2024, the gathering takes place this month.
“I hope this image surprises people,” Ronnie says. “It’s a very rare scenario. The vehicles’ engines were turned off; there were no horns or intrusions. This photograph makes me feel a great sense of peace.”
