Shawdesh Desk:

The first phase of Bishwa Ijtema, one of the biggest congregations of the Muslims in the world, in Tongi kept continuing for the second day on Saturday — drawing several lakhs devotees.

The three-day congregation began on the bank of the River Turag after Fajr prayers on Friday with sermons delivered by noted Islamic scholar Maulana Ziaul Haque of Pakistan.

Several lakhs Muslim devotees, both from home and abroad, are converging at the venue and attending the prayers — reciting the names of Allah and hearing the sermons.

Maulana Khurshidul Haque of Pakistan delivered sermons after Fajr prayers and Maulana Ibrahim Deula of India also delivered sermons in the morning.

Maulana Iftar Zaman will deliver sermons in English.

Devotees from different parts of the country are still coming to the Ijtema venue by buses, trucks, boats and on foot.

The first phase of Ijtema will end on Sunday with Akheri Munajat (final prayers).

Ijtema is being held in two phases from 2012 to ease accommodation issues.

The second phase of Ijtema is scheduled to be held in January 20-22 at the same place.

So far, seven devotees had died at the Ijtema venue during the first phase of the global congregation, said Jisanul Haque, additional deputy commissioner of Gazipur Metropolitan Police.

The deceased were identified as Nurul Haque, 63, son of Fazlul Haque of Jointapur in Sylhet, Abu Taiab alias Abu Taleb, 90, of Gazipur district, Habibullah Habi, 68, of Keraniganj upazila in Dhaka, Mofazzel Hossain Khan, 70, son of Mobark Hossain of Dumuria upazila in Khulna, Akkas Ali Shikdar, 50, son of Adil Uddin Shikdar of Munshiganj, Abdur Razzak, 70, son of Abdul Rashid of Chattogram, and Habibur Rahman Hobi, 70, son of Rahmatullah of Narsingdi.

Of them, Nurul Haque and Abu Taiab died on Thursday due to old age complications and respiratory problems while Habiullah, Mofazzel and Akkas died on Friday and Razzak and Habibur died on Saturday morning due to old age complications.

A mass wedding ceremony will be held on Saturday at the ground after Asr prayers.

Gazipur Metropolitan Police commissioner Mollah Nazrul Islam said additional police personnel had been deployed in and around the Ijtema venue to ensure the security of the devotees. The venue has been brought under closed-circuit television camera surveillance.

Besides, thousands of volunteers are working round the clock to make sure the event runs smoothly.

Several health centres have been set up at different parts of the venue along with beds and almost all first aid and other treatment facilities with doctors doing round-the-clock duties at each of the centres.

Special measures have also been taken to ensure uninterrupted electricity during the three-day Ijtema.

Tabligh Jamaat has been organising the congregation at the Tongi venue since 1967. In 2011, it divided Ijtema into two phases to accommodate a large number of attendees.