State-owned transport agency Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation will operate special bus services from January 21-February 3 for Bishwa Ijtema, the second largest religious congregation of world Muslim community.
Bishwa Ijtema will start on January 24 at the Ijtema ground in Tongi on the banks of river Turag.
BRTC will provide at least 300 of its buses for carrying the participants to the Ijtema ground from and back to different places around the country.
Communication Minister Obaidul Quader yesterday informed the media about the special services while visiting the Ijtema road (Tongi-Bypass-Kamarpara).
The minister went to the sudden visit to observe the real condition of the road and the progress in the maintenance work.
The Roads and Highways Division of the communication ministry is doing the Tk 2.25 crore maintenance work of the 12.3km road in the area to keep congestion at tolerable levels during the Bishwa Ijtema. The drainage system of the area will also be improved and cleared before the congregation begins.
The minister said the expected date for completing maintenance and improvement work of the roads and the drainage system was January 20.
The first phase of the Bishwa Ijtema would be held from January 24-26. The second phase of the Ijtema will be held from January 31-February 2.
According to the BRTC, the special buses will be operated from Aricha, Paturia, Mirpur, Narsingdi, Narayanganj, Comilla, Bhairab, Kuti Chowmuhani, Brahmanbaria, Kishoreganj, Birishiri, Netrokona, Sonapur, Char Jabbar, Laksmipur, Kalmakanda, Madan, Monohardi, Mirkadim, Mohanganj, Akhaura, Mymensingh, Saidabad, Gulistan, Gabtoli, Kamalapur, Mohakhali, Azimpur and Joydevpur during the 14 days of Ijtema.
The double-decker buses will also carry passengers from in front of the Kakrail Mosque in the capital to the Ijtema ground.