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http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=73561

2m to attend Biswa Ijtema
Devotees from 152 countries gather on the bank of Turag
Kailash Sarkar

Biswa Ijtema, the second largest Muslim congregation after the Hajj, begins today on the bank of river Turag with participation of devotees from 152 countries.

The three-day congregation is expected to witness around 20 lakh devotees including more than one lakh women from across the world, said the organisers.

Meanwhile, thousands of devotees reached the Ijtema venue and already joined the religious sermon that began after the Fazr prayers yesterday.

The Tablig-e-Jamaat has been organising the gargantuan gathering since 1976. Several thousands devotees volunteered to prepare the five-square kilometre ground to accommodate the devotees.

The government is also extending all-out supports and providing facilities for the smooth holding of the gathering.

As many as 44 special trains and a number of BRTC shuttle bus service have been arranged to ease the transportation.

Eight deep tube-wells and an 11 kilometre long pipeline with the capacity of 50 lakh gallons of water everyday have been set up. A water tank with the capacity of storing one-lakh gallons of water has also been set up.

The authorities also placed around 50 medical teams for providing with treatment facilities to the devotees free of cost.

The law-enforcers put up a three-tier security system including helicopter patrol and close-circuit television (CCTV) monitoring in and around the venue.

Police and Rab sources said the law enforcers would frisk everyone at five checkpoints to avert any untoward incident.

Around 11,000 security personnel from the police Rapid Action Battalion (Rab), Bangladesh Rifles (BDR), Armed Police Battalion (APB), ansars and several hundred members of various intelligence agencies have been put in place to ensure security.

Police Superintendent of Gazipur Abdul Baten told The Daily Star that 48 CCTVs and 30 video cameras had been installed at different strategic points. Moreover, police members would also remain on patrol.

Major Masud Parvez, chief of the control room of the Ijtema security said helicopters, speedboats and motorised vehicles would be operative to ensure foolproof security.

Meantime, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in a message greeted the countrymen as well as the Muslim Ummah on the occasion of Biswa Ijtema.

The Prime Minister said Biswa Ijtema, the annual Muslim congregation, has become a part of Bangladesh's national tradition and is a glorious event.

I think Biswa Ijtema has been significantly contributing to disseminating the essence of Islam such as universal peace, fraternity, honesty and generosity,” she said.

Sheikh Hasina hoped that the grand gathering would continue to strengthen the bond of unity, solidarity and brotherhood among people of all walks of life and the Muslim Ummah.