Chittagong, Bangladesh:  Preparation for the three-day Biswa Ijtema, the second largest congregation of Muslims after hajj, is scheduled to start on January 22 on the bank of the river Turag in Tongi, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

According to sources, over four million musallis or devotees from 70 countries including host Bangladesh are expected to join 45th Bishwa Ijtema.  

Deputy Commissioner Kamal Uddin Talukder told the press on Saturday that a special meeting on the over all preparation and security of Ijtema would be held from Sunday.

Home Minister Advocate Sahara Khatun, local Members of the Parliament and senior officials will join the meeting, he added.

A huge panel covering five-square kilometer area of the Ijtema premises has been set up to provide shelter to millions of devotees. Over five millions devotees are expected to join the ‘Akheri Munajat’ (final prayer). The Ijtema panel has been extended to accommodate additional devotees, said an organizer of Ijtema.  

Every year the President, the Prime Minister, the leader of the opposition, ministers, lawmakers and senior government officials participate in the ‘Akheri Munajat’ (final prayer) of the Ijtema, he added.

Over 15,000 foreign devotees from different Muslim countries are likely to join the congregation on the bank of river Turag at Tongi, some 20 km north of capital Dhaka. Last year, around two million devotees including 10,500 foreign devotees from 105 Muslim countries had joined the gathering.

“From Arakan State, Burma, the Arakanese Rohingya community are allowed to join the Ijtema following an understanding with the authorities every year, but, this year will the authorities allow Arakanese Rohingya to join the event?,” wondered a border trader.

“It is also difficult for Arakanese Rohingya to travel from the border in Bangladesh as the local authorities and local people are going to arrest the Arakanese Rohingya on the border. So, this year, I don’t know how they will reach the Ijtema,” he added.

The event, also called the world congregation of Muslims, mainly focuses on prayers and meditation seeking divine blessing from Allah.

The three-day programme includes delivering boyans (sermons) on the fundamental issues of Tablig, prayer for the spiritual adulation, exaltation and welfare of the Muslim community.

Farhad Hossain, Chief Engineer of Public Health and Engineering Department of Gazipur, said apart from the existing eight deep tube-wells, five more deep tube-wells have been installed on the ground to ensure water supply to the devotees.

Around 1,768 sanitary latrines, 25,000 semi-paka latrine and 3,000 temporary toilets have been set up around the ground, he said adding that construction of 416 sanitary latrines are underway for using next year.

At least 10,000 sanitary latrines are needed to ensure sanitation, he said.

A three-storey building has been set up this year for the first time to ensure sanitation and bath facilities for the devotees. Last year, the government had built seven two-storeyed buildings for the purpose.

Several special trains and a number of BRTC shuttle bus services will be arranged to ease transportation.

Around 50 medical teams will provide treatment to the devotees free of cost while the number of seats in the Tongi General Hospital has also been increased this time.

The Engineering Corps members of the Bangladesh Army will set up several floating bridges over the Turag to facilitate movement of the devotees, Kamal Uddin Talukder, Deputy Commissioner of Gazipur district, told the press.

Around 12,000 policemen and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) personnel will be deployed to ensure security in and around the Ijtema ground while several hundred members of various intelligence agencies will be in place.

Close-circuit television (CCTV) and video cameras will also be installed at different strategic points, he added.

The programme will conclude with the Akheri Munajat (final prayer) on the last day in January 24.