Devotees pour in: With sacks on their shoulders and prayer caps on their heads, thousands start streaming into the Biswa Ijtema ground at Tongi on the Turag yesterday for the world's second largest congregation of the Muslims. Photo: Sk Enamul Haq Ignoring chilling winter and the 20-party blockade, thousands of devotees have gathered on the bank of the Turag at Tongi as the first phase of Biswa Ij
tema, Muslims' second largest congregation after the hajj, begins today. Organised by Tabligh Jamaat, the first phase of Ijtema, which will formally start after Fazr prayers with religious sermons by Islamic scholars and prayers, is scheduled to end with Akheri Munajat on Sunday, seeking spiritual wellbeing and welfare of the Muslim Ummah. Several million devotees in and outside the capital are expected to join Juma prayers at the Ijtema ground in Gazipur today. They crammed inside buses and trains and when there was no space inside they got on the roofs to travel to the Ijtema that begins today. Photo: Sk Enamul Haq Devotees from 32 districts are attending the first phase, while devotees from the other 32 districts will participate in the second phase slated for January 16-18, reports our Gazipur correspondent. Meanwhile, Islamic Foundation has called upon the BNP-led alliance to call off its countrywide nonstop blockade as it was creating problems for many pilgrims for the lack of transport. SM Mahfuzul Haque Nuruzzaman, deputy inspector general of police, said around 12,000 policemen were deployed in five zones at the Ijtema ground to ensure security of the devotees. Rapid Action Battalion, in a press release, said its force would patrol in the area round the clock to prevent any subversive activities. Advertisement Gazipur Civil Surgeon Anisur Rahman said two makeshift medical camps had been set up at the Ijtema ground and 12 ambulances would be there to transport sick devotees.
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