Dahka,Bangladesh: The three day Biswa Ijtema (world congregation),the second largest religious gathering of the Muslims after Hajj begins today at Tongi of Dahka from across the country and abroad said Nurul Alam form Dhaka.

Delivery of sermons at the Ijtema venue, however, started yesterday after sunset. The congregation will end on Sunday with the concluding prayers (Akheri Munajat), he more added.

Islamic scholars from home and abroad will deliver speeches every day at the Ijtema highlighting various aspects of Islam. The speeches will be translated in various languages so that devotees can understand those, he further added.

Cook food would be supplied for the foreign devotees, expected to come from about 60 countries, said a committee member of Ijtema to our reporter.

22 thousand personnel from the police, Rab, BDR, Armed police Battalion and Ansar are on duty there, a police said to our source.

Comprehensive arrangements have been made to ensure water and power supply, sanitation, Medicare and other essential facilities for the devotees.

On 25th January 2006, Abdur Rakib, 66, an American national died after his arrival at the Ijtema ground. He was buried at the Ijtema ground yard after Fazr prayer on this day, said Hasim, our Kaladen Press reporter.