Millions of Muslim pilgrims converge in Bangladesh
Called "Biswa Ijtema" which means "Global Congrecation" in Bengali, the event is held at the Tongi near the banks of the Turag river some 20km north of capital Dhaka. It is organised by the Tablighi Jamaat Islamic movement and focuses on prayers and meditation. Political discussion is not allowed at the gathering.
Organizers say that the event is the second largest for Muslims next to the Hajj to Mecca and has been running since 1976.
Muslims had come by air and over land through India to attend the gathering and their numbers were expected to peak on Sunday with the concluding prayer.
Security was tight to ensure the safety of the devotees with around 8,000 security personnel from different agencies and several hundred plainclothes security employees deployed to the venue.
Law enforcement agencies have set up nine observation towers to watch the movement of people while 60 CCTVs have been installed in the area, including the 18 entrance points to the meeting area, organizers said.
"Members of the police are everywhere, thousands of policemen are engaged everywhere to maintain law and order in this 'ijtema' area. RAB (Rapid Action Battalion), members of the army are engaged here, helicopter are also above. We have taken very strong security measures here for the devotees so that none can create problems," said Abdus Sattar, a police officer.
The event features sermons on fundamental issues of the reformation of Muslims, prayer for spiritual adulation, exaltation and welfare of the Muslim community.
"After the Haj the biggest Islamic gathering is this 'Bishwa Ijtema'. Millions of Muslims have gathered here to pray together for the peace of the world's Muslims . I am also here to join the prayer to pray for myself and for the peace of world," said Alamgir Hossain, a devotee attending the event.
The religious movement was founded by Muhammad Ilyas, a madrassa teacher-turned missionary, in 1926 as an independent movement for the reformation of Islamic faith in India.
The start of the "Tablighi Jamaat", or "conveying group" followed the trend of an Islamic revival in India following the collapse of Muslim political power and the consolidation of British rule in India in the mid-nineteenth century.
Academics also say the formation of the group coincides with the rise of Hindu movements which started efforts in the early 20th century to reconvert Hindus who had embraced Islam.
There are no exact figures on the numbers of Tablighi Jamaat followers worldwide, but estimates put the number at 70 to 80 million people.
Most of the followers are based in South Asia, but studies show there is a large population in the United Kingdom, mostly of people of South Asian descent. The movement has also spread to other parts of Europe, the United States and also central Asia.
