Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan yesterday said the first phase of Biswa Ijtema would begin from January 13 and to be ended on January 17 at Tongi, reports BSS. "The second phase will be held on January 20-22 after four days and necessary security measures will be taken for successful holding of the Biswa Ijtema," he told reporters after a meeting on Biswa Ijtema preparation and visa facilitation for foreign visitors and maintenance of law and order at Bangladesh Secretariat. The minister said law enforcement agencies, including plainclothes police, RAB, DB, would be deployed at the Ijtema venue to ensure foolproof security of the devotees.
"Close circuit televisions and cameras, watching towers and police control rooms would be set up at the Ijtema venue," Khan added.
He said special security measures would be taken to ease traffic congestion from Gazipur to Dhaka ahead of Ijtema and special trains and bus services to be launched for transporting devotees to and from the Ijtema ground. The minister said around 20,000 foreign devotees from 101 countries took part in the Biswa Ijtema last year and the numbers of foreign devotees are expected to cross the last year’s figure, adding that steps have been taken to facilitate visas for foreign Ijtema attendees. Foreigners from war-torn countries wanting to participate in the Ijtema would have to send their names in the home ministry and we will then issue visas according to the list,” he said.