According to the UNB report, the first phase of the three-day ‘Biswa Ijtema’, billed as the second largest gathering of Muslims after Haj, is set to begin on Friday morning on the banks of Turag river at Tongi in the district.
Necessary preparations have been completed by the concerned authorities for the smooth conduct of the meeting.
Along with the local people, a good number of foreign devotees from different parts of the world have reached the Ijtema site to attend the Ijtema.
President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina greeted Muslim pilgrims on the occasion in separate messages.
The government organized health camps to provide treatment to the devotees as in previous years.
However, two devotees died of cold-related illness at the venue on Thursday.
