Millions of devotees from home and abroad have gathered on the bank of Turag River in Tongi to attend the Bishwa Ijtema which begins today amid the indefinite blockade enforced by BNP-led 20 party alliance in the country.
The devotees have taken their certain places at the Ijetma ground, said organisers.
People will continue to swarm the bank of Turag River till Akheri Munajat. The first phase of the Ijtema will end on Sunday with the munajat, they said.
As per schedule, the second phase of the Ijtema will begin on January 16 and will end on January 18.
Gias Uddin Ahmed, an engineer who is responsible for preparing the Ijtema ground, said they have completed all preparations for the gathering.
During a visit to the Ijtema ground, it was found that devotees were engaged in preparing their makeshift shelters.
State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid Bipu, Railway Minister Mujibul Haque and local lawmaker Jahid Russel, among others, visited the Ijtema ground.
Deen Muhammad Nurul Haq, director general of health department, also visited the makeshift medical camps around 10:00am.
Briefing of RAB and Police
Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) Director General Benjir Ahmed briefed journalists about the security measures at the ground.
“We will reach the devotees at earliest possible time at any of their need,” he said.
“After the Akheri Munajat, we will try to provide the devotees with some transports facilities to help them reaching the nearby bus stops,” he added.
Meanwhile, Police Deputy Inspector General Mahfujul Haque Nurujjaman also briefed journalists.
“We have set up a five-layered security system surrounding the ground,” he said.
“We divided the ground into five zones. Some 12,000 law enforcers have been deployed to ensure the security of the devotees,” he added.
Emergency phone numbers
The devotees can contact at the following phone numbers for any of their need: district administration control room at 9813401 and 9813402; police control room at 9813403; media center at 9813408; Rab control room at 9815112, 9815113 and 9815114; health control room at 9813406, 9817514, 9817515, 9817516, information authority at 9816370-74, fire service at 9816369 and power control room at 9816379.
