Biswa Ijtema starts tomorrow

Thousands of Muslims have started congregating on the bank of the Turag River in Tongi, Gazipur for the three-day Biswa Ijtema that starts tomorrow.

For the first time, the Ijtema will be held in four phases.

People from 33 districts will take part in the first two phases this year while those from the remaining 32 districts will take part in two more phases next year.

But foreigners will be able to join every phase.

Tabligh Jamaat has been organising Biswa Ijtema, also called the World Muslims' Congregation, every year since 1946.

In 2011, the organisers split the congregation into two phases to deal with overcrowding, ensure better management, and give security.

Giasuddin, an organiser, said 17 districts would take part in the first phase and 16 others in the  second phase, which is scheduled to start on January 15.

Addressing a press conference Tuesday, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said the people of the country did not harbour militancy.

He said the Ijtema would pass off nicely with police ready to ensure people's security.

Superintendent of Police of Gazipur Harun or Rashid said they did not sense any militant attack during the congregation.

He said 5,000 police personnel would guard the Ijtema ground. There will be 60 CCTV cameras, five watch towers, and plainclothes police, he added.

The SP said 20 mobile courts of the Deputy Commissioner's (DC's) office would be deployed.

Officials said 3 crore litres of water would be supplied to the ground every day through tube wells, and there would be 6,000 toilet units in concrete buildings.

The Ijtema will be held this time in four phases, the first one beginning tomorrow. People from 17 of the 64 districts take part in the first phase. Photo: Palash Khan

The ground will have uninterrupted power supply, while fire officials will stand ready to deal with any accident, they said.

The Akheri Munajat will be held on January 6. Districts participating in the first phase are Dhaka, Sherpur, Narayanganj, Nilphamari, Sirajganj, Natore, Gaibandha, Laxmipur, Sylhet, Chittagong, Narail, Madaripur, Bhola, Magura, Patuakhali, Jhalkathi, and Panchagarh.

In second phase, people will come from Jhenidah, Jamalpur, Faridpur, Netrakona, Narsingdi, Comilla, Kurigram, Rajshahi, Feni, Thakurgaon, Sunamganj, Bogra, Khulna, Chuadanga, and Pirojpur.