Akheri Munajat today

A security helicopter hovers overhead devotees at the Bishwa Ijtema venue yesterday. Photo: Banglar Chokh.com

The Akheri Munajat of the 45th Bishwa Ijtema -- the second largest congregation of Muslims -- will be offered after Zohr prayers today with the participation of an expected gathering of around two million devotees.
Ijtema sources said over 15 lakh people from across the country and various other countries have already gathered at the Ijtema venue on the second day of the three-day congregation on the bank of River Turag.
More devotees are expected to join for the Akheri Munajat.
Moulana Jobayerul Hasan of India is scheduled to lead the Akheri Munajat.
The Ijtema mainly focuses on prayers and meditation seeking divine blessing from Allah and is held over three days every year.
President Prof Iajuddin Ahmed, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, opposition leader in the parliament Khaleda Zia, various ministers and other VVIP personnel are expected to participate in the Akheri Munajat.
Separate platforms have been built for them.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to offer her prayers from a venue atop the Bata Shoe Company building at Tongi while leader of the opposition Khaleda Zia will be situated atop the Atlas Bangladesh Ltd building.
President Prof Iajudin would be situated at another platform built near the main stage of the congregation.
Special security measures have been taken to ensure their safety.
This year, a record figure of 10,500 foreign devotees from 105 Muslim countries has joined the congregation.
As the number of foreigners participating this year was very high, authorities were not able to accommodate all of them at the international venue.
Meanwhile, on the second day of the Ijtema yesterday, a dowry-free mass wedding programme was held at the venue as is traditionally done every year. A total of 115 couples, in presence of their relatives and guardians, got married at the programme.
The government has taken various measures to extend all-out support to the smooth holding of the annual congregation.
As many as 44 special trains and a number of BRTC shuttle bus services have been arranged to ease the transportation of pilgrims to the venue. The authorities have also placed around 50 medical teams at the gathering for free treatment facilities to the devotees.The law-enforcing agencies have put up a three-tier security system -- including helicopter patrol and close-circuit television (CCTV) monitoring -- in and around the venue. They have also set up eight observation towers while two helicopters had been hovering over the area.Police and Rab sources said the law enforcers had been frisking everyone at five checkpoints to avert any untoward incident.Around 11,000 security personnel from the police Rapid Action Battalion (Rab), Bangladesh Rifles (BDR), Armed Police Battalion (APB), ansars and several hundred members of various intelligence agencies have been put in place to ensure security during the event.
Law enforcers have rounded up around 80 muggers from and around the Ijtema venue over the last two days.