Dated: Saturday December 27, 2003

Ijtema (Religious Gathering) Began Yesterday in Dhaka

Chittagong, Dec. 27: Biswa Ijtema (world religious gathering), a congregation of world Muslims organized by the Tablig Jamaat, began at Tongi about 20 kms north off the Dhaka, according to our correspondent, who has been participating in the gathering.

Meanwhile, all arrangements have been made for the three-day annual gathering and hundreds of thousands Muslims devotees from home and abroad have converged on the bank of the river Turag, he further added.

It is the second largest gathering of Muslims after the Hajj on the planet. Devotees from 65 countries are likely to join the Ijtema being held regularly at the same place since 1966.

Several thousands loudspeakers have been installed on the ground to broadcast the deliberations round the clock. The local administration directed hotel and restaurant owners to refrain from providing unhygienic foods.

The local administration is also providing necessary logistics and has taken adequate measures for maintaining law and order in the area during the Ijtema.

Various social and religious organizations have set up temporary medical camps for providing emergency treatment to the devotees.

The Biswa Ijtema ends on Monday morning through offering of the Akheri Munajat (the last solemn request or _expression of thanks to God) or the concluding supplication.