More than 30 lakh people including President Iajuddin Ahmed, Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, ministers, lawmakers and political leaders are expected to join in the prayer to be led by Moulana Jobayer Hasan of New Delhi at 11:50am.

The authorities have completed all security measures for the president, the prime minister and other dignitaries in the 160-acre Ijtema ground covered by a gigantic canopy.

Thousands of women will also take part in the munajat from rooftops of nearby mills, factories and high-rises, and houses in Uttara and Tongi.

The second largest Muslim congregation after the Hajj organised by Tablig Jamaat took off Friday with over 15 lakh devotees offering the Juma prayer together.

The attendees spent the second day listening to bayans (sermons) delivered by Islamic scholars of home and abroad, besides offering regular prayers en masse. A total of 3,733 foreigners from 54 countries are participating in this year's Ijtema.

One of the Ijtema organisers said, so far, 10,000 people have enlisted as new members of Tablig Jamaat and volunteered to take part in chilla (a pilgrimage with a mission of religious campaign) of different tenure.

At least 127 couples were solemnised without dowry yesterday.

More than 15 thousand security personnel including 6,500 police and 1,000 troops of Rapid Action Battalion are deployed in the area to maintain law and order.

The law enforcers arrested 127 people for fraud and pickpocketing until yesterday.

The authorities have closed the road section from Cherag Ali, Tongi to Banani, Dhaka for all sorts of vehicles from 12 midnight yesterday to facilitate movement of Ijtema participants. The route is jam-packed with pedestrians rushing towards the venue some 30km from the capital. The government agencies concerned have arranged special bus, train, and ferry services for them.