Locals claim the number of devotees gathered there this year surpasses the number of devotees that gathered at Akheri Munajat (concluding prayers) last year.

Several lakh devotees thronged the Ijtema ground since early yesterday morning from different places across the country to offer their Jum'a prayers turning the area around 20km off the capital into a human sea.

Maulana Qwari Zobayer, Imam of Kakrail Mosque, led the prayers with rows of worshippers spilling out of the 160-acre Ijtema ground which was covered by a gigantic canopy.

Not getting space to pray on the Ijtema ground, many were seen offering the Jum'a prayers on Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway. The vehicular movement on the Dhaka-Mymensingh and Dhaka-Gazipur highways were halted for one hour during the prayer.

Adviser Anwarul Iqbal of LGRD ministry, Jatiya Party chief HM Ershad, Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) President Prof AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury, former Law Minister Abdul Matin Khasru, Gazipur Municipality Chairman AKM Mozammel Haque, Tongi Municipality Chairman Ajmat Ullah Khan, Gazipur Deputy Commissioner (DC) Syed Mizanur Rahman, Gazipur Police Superintendent Rezaul Karim and other high-ranking officials also offered their Jum'a prayers in the Ijtema ground.

More than 4,000 foreign devotees from 63 countries are also taking part in the event. They are staying in a camp designated for them at the northern end of the Ijtema ground. Sources said more foreign devotees are on the way.

Many women are also attending the solemn annual function from the houses of their relatives in Tongi and Uttara.

Adviser Anwarul Iqbal said he was pleased with the entire management of the Ijtema.

"I haven't seen so many people in the last couple of years and people are coming here without hesitation that proves good law and order situation," he said.

Shamsul Arefin, a devotee from Kishoreganj, told The Daily Star, "I have attended the last seven Biswa Ijtemas but never saw this many people on the first day."

The Ijtema authorities said the number of devotees this year on day one is much higher than the previous years.

A volunteer of the Ijtema said the improved law and order situation has made it safer for the devotees to join the Ijtema thus their number is so high.

Several devotees said they were pleased with the management specially water and sanitation.

The main programme of this year's Ijtema started with the "Aam Boyan" (main sermon) after the Fajr prayers. Scholars of Islam from home and abroad gave sermons throughout the day.

President Prof Iajuddin Ahmed and Chief Adviser to the Caretaker Government Fakhruddin Ahmed will participate in the Akheri Munajat on the Munajat Mancha, the organisers said.

Besides, Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and wives of the president, chief adviser and other advisers will take part in the Munajat at Atlas Honda Factory, Bata Factory and Telephone Shilpa Sangastha (TSS).

FACILITIES
The authorities have ensured utilities and facilities like water and power supply, sanitation, medical and other essentials for the devotees.

More than 3,000 toilets have been built which the devotees termed unprecedented.

Five water pumps, 72 water reservoirs have been installed to ensure regular supply of around 18 lakh gallons of water, a volunteer told The Daily Star yesterday.

A pandal for the listening impaired people was also built beside the international camp where about 100 people from home and abroad are staying.

Around 25 free medical care services have been installed on the northern side of Ijtema ground.

SECURITY
Security measures have been taken to ensure security of the devotees during the Ijtema with the deployment of large number policemen at the venue.

A five-layer checking system has been put in place in and around the venue. Nearly 7,500 law enforcers including police, Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) and Bangladesh Rifles personnel, are on duty there.

Close Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras have been installed at each entry point of the Ijtema ground while Rab set up five surveillance towers in the area.

Law enforcers were seen patrolling the venue, nearby roads and waterways.

Every individual was being checked with metal detectors and also manually at the checkpoints before they were allowed to enter the Khittas (a block of the Ijtema ground).

MEDIA CELL
Following the Juma prayers, Adviser Anwarul Iqbal inaugurated a media cell, organised by Tongi Press Club, on the Ijtema ground which would help newsmen provide Ijtema news to the world.

DEATH
Two people died on the Ijtema ground yesterday. The dead were identified as Abdul Kader, 44, of Chuadanga and Abu Hanif from, 62, of Gazipur.

The namaz-e-janeza of the two was held in the Ijtema ground after the Jum'a prayers.

ARRESTED
Law enforcers in and outside the Ijtema ground arrested at least 50 pickpockets yesterday.