Preparations afoot for Biswa Ijtema
Monday, 4 January 2010
Preparations are afoot to hold the three-day Biswa Ijtema at the outskirts of the capital city on the bank of the river Turag from January 22, reports BSS.
Devotees will, however, start gathering at the world Tablig congregation venue at Tongi from January 21, sources close to the event organisers told the news agency detailing the preparations and security arrangements.
The Biswa Ijtema is the second largest world Muslim gathering after the Hajj and has been taking place in Bangladesh since 1966.
Construction workers are now busy with putting in place a huge pandal on two- square kilometres of land and jute sacks to provide sitting facility for millions of participants.
Chief patron of the event Giashuddin Ahmed said that this year 20 to 21 thousand foreign Tablig pilgrims would attend it and they were building separate pandals for them. Moreover, they were also putting in place at least six thousand toilets for the devotees, he said.
Deputy Commissioner of Gazipur Kamaluddin Talukder is supervising the overall preparatory work on top of a committee comprising senior district officials and public representatives. They are frequently visiting the spot and reviewing the progress of the preparatory work.
The committee has decided to deploy RAB, police and Ansars to ensure security during the event. Accordingly, RAB will put nine check posts to be equipped with close circuit cameras at the entrance to the Ijtema ground.
Local Government Engineering Department, Roads and Highways Department and Tongi Municipality are especially working on preparing local roads, water supply and such other infrastructure facilities.
A total of 135 medical teams and 12 ambulances will be on standby on the occasion. The authorities will also put in service 10 floating pontoons on the river Turag to facilitate pilgrims' movement across the small river.
Devotees will, however, start gathering at the world Tablig congregation venue at Tongi from January 21, sources close to the event organisers told the news agency detailing the preparations and security arrangements.
The Biswa Ijtema is the second largest world Muslim gathering after the Hajj and has been taking place in Bangladesh since 1966.
Construction workers are now busy with putting in place a huge pandal on two- square kilometres of land and jute sacks to provide sitting facility for millions of participants.
Chief patron of the event Giashuddin Ahmed said that this year 20 to 21 thousand foreign Tablig pilgrims would attend it and they were building separate pandals for them. Moreover, they were also putting in place at least six thousand toilets for the devotees, he said.
Deputy Commissioner of Gazipur Kamaluddin Talukder is supervising the overall preparatory work on top of a committee comprising senior district officials and public representatives. They are frequently visiting the spot and reviewing the progress of the preparatory work.
The committee has decided to deploy RAB, police and Ansars to ensure security during the event. Accordingly, RAB will put nine check posts to be equipped with close circuit cameras at the entrance to the Ijtema ground.
Local Government Engineering Department, Roads and Highways Department and Tongi Municipality are especially working on preparing local roads, water supply and such other infrastructure facilities.
A total of 135 medical teams and 12 ambulances will be on standby on the occasion. The authorities will also put in service 10 floating pontoons on the river Turag to facilitate pilgrims' movement across the small river.