Biswa Ijtema begins Friday

The 54th Biswa Ijtema Biswa Ijtema, one of the largest Muslim congregations in the world, will be held from February 15 o 18 in two phases on the bank of river Turag at Tongi in Gazipur.

Tight security measures have been taken for the event while several thousand members of different law enforcement agencies will be deployed in and around the Ijtema ground for ensuring security of the devotees.

The first phase of Biswa Ijtema will be held between from February 15 and 16 while the second phase from February 17 to 18 on the same venue.

A follow up meeting on overall preparations of the 54th Biswa Ijtema was held at the regional office of Gazipur City Corporation (GCC) at Tongi at this afternoon here.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan attended the meeting as the chief guest with Gazipur Deputy Commissioner (DC) Dr Dewan Mohammad Humayun Kabir in the chair.

Addressing the meeting, the minister urged the two factions of Tablig Jamaat to take part in the Ijtema peacefully and not to make any provocative comment while delivering sermons or speaking at the Ijtema ground.

Action will be taken immediately against those who will make any provocative comments as our law enforcement agencies are now more enriched, he said.

State Minister for Religious Affairs Advocate Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, State Minister for Youth and Sports Jahid Ahsan Rasel, GCC Mayor Md Jahangir Alam, Inspector General of Police Javed Patwary, Director General of RAB Benazir Ahmed, Gazipur Metropolitan Police Commissioner YM Belalur Rahman, Superintendent of Police Shamsunnahar and delegations of the Tablig Jamaat, among others, attended the meeting.

Five control rooms have been set up to monitor the Ijtema ground while 15 watch towers of police and 10 of RAB have also been set up to ensure over all security of the devotees.

Special measures have also been taken to ensure uninterrupted electricity and water supply during the Ijtema.

Several healthcare centres have been set up at different parts of the venue along with first aid and other treatment facilities to provide health care services to the devotees while a total of 175 gas burner stoves were set up to provide cocking facilities for foreign devotees at the Ijtema compound.

Tabligh Jamaat has been organising the Ijtema at the venue since 1967. However, the Ijtema is held in two phases since 2011 to ease the accommodation and transportation problem.