The 53rd Biswa Ijtema, the second largest congregation of the Muslim community after the holy hajj, will be held in two phases from January 12-14 and January 19-21 on bank of the river Turag amid tight security.

Necessary security measures have already been taken with deployment of elite force Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Police and other law enforcement agencies in large number to ensure smooth holding of the Biswa Ijtema.

To mark the Ijtema, a follow-up review meeting was held at the regional office of Gazipur City Corporation (GCC) with local lawmaker M Zahid Ahsan Russell in the chair.

GCC Mayor Prof MA Mannan, Divisional Commissioner M Bazlul Karim Chowdhury, Additional Secretary of Home Ministry M Helal Uddin, Gazipur Superintendent of Police Harun-or-Rashid, RAB-1 Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Sarwar-Bin-Kashem, Gazipur City Awami League President Ajmat Ullah Khan, representatives of Biswa Ijtema Engineer Mezbah Uddin, Dr Rafiqul Islam and M Giasuddin Ahmed and other high officials of different organizations of the government were present on the occasion.

Gazipur SP Harun-or-Rashid told BSS that several control rooms, 14 watch towers and 41 close circuit camera televisions have been set up in and around the Ijtema ground alongside deployment of bomb disposal units and dog squads to ensure foolproof security.

He said an 8-tier security measure will be taken with deployment of 7,000 policemen and about 250 RAB members to avert any untoward incident.

Patrol teams of both Police and RAB in land and river will act to prevent illegal entrance into the Khitta (area) allocated for the foreigners, he added.

Gazipur additional SP Md Russell Sheikh said patrol teams have been entrusted with stopping any sorts of petty crimes such as snatching and pick-pocketing while a striking force has been kept ready to act immediately in case of any emergency.

Police will take special measures ahead of the two phases of Biswa Ijtema to ease the traffic snarl. The measure will come into effect at 10:00pm on January 12 and 10:00pm on January 21.

A number of 13 gates were erected by Gazipur City Corporation to welcome the local and foreign devotees.

The review meeting was told that 3.54 lakh gallon of fresh water will be supplied everyday through 18.50 kilometer pipelines from 13 deep tube wells set up at Biswa Ijtema compound.

Besides, a total of 136 gas burners were set up to provide cocking facilities for local and foreign devotees while 45 health service centers were setup at the Ijtema compound.

An official of Ijtema organizing committee expressed his hope that over 25 lakh devotes from home and abroad may take part in the Biswa Ijtema this year.