Hundreds of thousands of Muslim pilgrims have gathered in Bangladesh on the banks of the Turag river, on the outskirts of the capital, to attend an annual Islamic congregation that begins Friday.
Almost 200,000 Muslim clerics and devotees from the country and abroad have already congregated for the Biswa Ijtema, or World Congregation of Muslims, at Tongi, 20 km from here, but organisers expect four million participants in the three-day event.
The congregation, considered the largest Muslim pilgrimage after Haj, will end with a mass prayer. Bangladesh President Iajuddin Ahmed and Prime Minister Khaleda Zia are expected to attend the prayer Sunday.
Nearly 30,000 pilgrims from abroad have already arrived. Organisers said at least 50,000 pilgrims from 40 countries are expected.
A ministry of home affairs official said adequate measures have been taken for the safety and security of the devotees.
"A team of 7,000 security personnel, including paramilitary troopers, members of the elite Rapid Action Battalion and police forces have been deployed in the Ijtema venue," he said.
Biswa Ijtema, an annual event in Bangladesh, has been regularly held since 1966. It was first started by a group called Tablig Jamaat in New Delhi to encourage others to follow the Islamic code of belief.
The devotees will live in tents for three days, listen to sermons and pray.
Women devotees are not allowed inside the main venue, but can join the prayer from outside.
--Indo-Asian News Service