Biswa Ijtema has begun on the Turag River bank at Tongi amid countrywide blockade enforced by the BNP-led 20-party alliance.
The first phase of the second largest congregation of Muslims after hajj formally started with delivering sermons by Pakistani Islamic scholar Maulana Ehsan after Fajr prayers.
Millions of devotees from home and abroad have gathered on Ijtema ground braving all the sufferings and obstacles caused by the transport blockade.
Special security measures have been taken to ensure security of the Muslim devotees.
The first phase of the Ijtema will end on Sunday with the munajat.
As per schedule, the second phase of the Ijtema will begin on January 16 and will end on January 18.
The first Ijtema was held at Kakrial Mosque in Dhaka in 1946. This was followed by a congregation at Chittagong Hajji camp in 1958, then at Siddirganj in Narayanganj. Since 1965, the Bishwa Ijtema has been held at Tongi.
