2nd phase of Biswa Ijtema begins

GAZIPUR, Jan 16 (UNB): The second phase of Biswa Ijtema, the second largest congregation of Muslims after hajj, began on Friday on the Turag River bank at Tongi on the outskirts of the capital amid countrywide non-strop transport blockade enforced by the BNP-led 20-party alliance.
A large number of Muslim devotees from home and abroad reached the congregation venue braving all the sufferings and obstacles caused by the transport blockade and hartal.
The second phase of the 50th Biswa Ijtema formally started with sermons delivered by Pakistani Islamic scholar Maulana Ismail Hossain Godrar after Fazr prayers.
Muslim devotees from 32 districts of the country and some devotees from Dhaka districts are participating in the second phase Ijtema, sources said.
Special security measures have been taken to ensure security of the Muslim devotees.
A larger number of troops from various law-enforcement agencies have been deployed at Tongi to ensure the foolproof security of the devotees at the Ijtema.
Several watch towers have been installed at the entrances to the Ijtema ground. Besides, a good number of close circuit cameras have been installed and a control room has been set up for providing healthcare services to the devotees.
Leading Islamic scholars from India, Pakistan, Turkey, Malaysia and Iran will deliver speeches in different languages at the Ijtema. The speeches will be translated into Bangla during the delivery. Earlier, the first phase of the three-day Biswa Ijtema, organised by Tablig Jamaat since 1946, was held on January 9-11.
The Ijtema is being held in two phases from 2012 to ease accommodation problem.