South Asia News

Jan 31, 2009, 8:18 GMT

Bangladesh beefs up security as millions attend Islamic meeting

Dhaka - Authorities in Bangladesh beefed up security as more than 2 million people from home and abroad gathered for an annual Islamic festival near the capital, officials said Saturday. A senior policeman said as many as 11,000 officers were deployed in and around the Biswa Ijtema, the second-largest Muslim gathering after the hajj. Internationally acclaimed Muslim leaders have been delivering sermons since the three-day meeting began Friday at a site covering 5 square kilometres in Tongi, 35 kilometres north of Dhaka. The gathering is to conclude Sunday with a final prayer seeking divine blessing for peace and prosperity for Muslims. Several thousand devotees volunteered to prepare for the event, the 45th of its kind. The government also provided facilities for the gathering and introduced special trains and buses to for the crowds going to the festival. The president of Muslim-majority Bangladesh, Iajuddin Ahmed; Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wazed and the leader of the opposition in Parliament, Khaleda Zia, were expected to attend Sunday's prayer, organizers said.

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