First phase of Biswa Ijtema begins
Millions of devotees from home and abroad have gathered on the bank of Turag River in Tongi to attend the first phase of the three-day Bishwa Ijtema which begins today.
The government has planned stringent security measures ahead of the two phases Biswa Ijtema, the second largest congregation of the Muslim community after the holly hajj, scheduled to be held in two phases from January 13-15 and January 20-22, on bank of the river Turag.
Necessary security measures have already been taken with deployment law enforcers Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), police and other law enforcement agencies in large numbers to ensure smooth holding of the Biswa Ijtema.
Several control rooms, nine watch towers and a number of close circuit camera televisions have been set up in and around of the Ijtema ground alongside with deployment of bomb disposal and dog squads, incidents to make the security foolproof.
A number of patrol teams of the police and RAB have been asked to remain alert to avert any untoward incident. Two speed boats of the RAB are set to patrol the Turag River while helicopters will over the Ijtema ground from the sky to make the security foolproof.
Patrol teams of both in land and river will stop illegal entrance into the Khitta (area) allocated for the foreigners.
Intermediate patrol team have been entrusted with stopping any sorts of petty crimes such as snatching, pick-pocketing, and the activities of ogyan (dope) party.
A striking force has been kept ready to act immediately in case of any emergency.
Police is set to take special measures ahead of the two phases Biswa Ijtema on the bank of river Turag at Tongi scheduled to be held from January 13-15 and January 20-22 to ease the traffic snarl. The measure will come into effect at 10 pm on January 14 and 10 pm on January 21, according to an official release of police headquarters.
Vehicles will not be allowed to ply on Ashulia Bridge to Abdullahpur via Progoti Saroni and on the Tongi Bridge via Gazipur intersection during the period, the release said, adding that the vehicles carrying passengers and crews of aircrafts, fire fighting vehicles and ambulance will be out the restriction.
The vehicles coming from Ghorashan via Kaliganj-Pubail can move till East Markul (K-2) of Tongi Railway Station while Dhaka bound vehicles can use Kanchpur-Jatrabari road coming from Dhaka-Sylhet highway via Ghorashal.
Ijtema goers can use Bailey-Bridge or Kamarpara Bridge instead of Tongi Bridge to reach the ijtema venue on feet.
Police also fixed some places for parking of vehicles. Gausul Azam Avenue has been fixed for parking of vehicles of Dhaka Metropolitan City and Chittagong division while Sonargaon intersection to Diabari Khalpar for Dhaka division, Shahmakhdum Avenue at sector 12 for Sylhet division, open places of sector 16 and 18 of Uttara for Khulna division, Kamarpara truck stand and sector 10 for Rangpur division, Protshya Housing for Rajshahi and Mymensingh divisions, Dhaur Bridge adjacent areas and BIWTA landing station for Barisal division and Shahjalal Avenue, Nikunja-1 and Nikunja-2 areas for Dhaka Metropolitan.
Tongi Kaderia Textile Mill, Meghna Textile Mill, Shafiuddin Sarker Academy, TIC field, Badre Alam College, truck stand of Joydebpur intersection, Chandana High School field Navy cigarette factory at Tongi have been fixed for parking of vehicles of Gazipur while fields of Ashulia College and Ashulia High School for Dhaka district.
Source: BSS
