Imams from India deliver Ijtema sermons................

Two leading Imams from India delivered sermons Friday at the spiritual sessions on the first day of the Bishwa Ijtema, the second largest congregation of Muslims in the world after the hajj.

Maulana Ibrahim, the Imam of Delhi Jame Masjid, gave his Aam Boyan (Main Sermon) after the Jumma prayers.

Maulana Ahmed Lat, another leader of Tablig Jamaat from India, delivered his Aam Boyan after the Magrib prayers in the evening.

The Dhaka-Mymensingh Road choked with traffic as devotees began arriving ahead of the midday prayers.

Many just stood on the road to say their Jumma prayers as the Ijtema ground could not accommodate them.

Hafez Maulana Zubayer, the Imam of Dhaka's Kakrail Jame Masjid, led the Jumma congregation of hundreds of thousand.

Health minister AFM Ruhul Haq, minister of state for religious affairs Shahjahan Miah, AKM Mazammel Haq MP and Jahid Ahsen Russell MP were among the devotees.

The prayer over, the traffic management also collapsed on Tong-Kaliganj, and Abdulllahpur-Ashulia roads.

Launched in 1946, the three-day Ijtema, on the bank of the Turag river, will see nearly 2 million visitors this year from home as well as some 90 different countries joining the congress, before it ends with the final prayer Akheri Munajat on Feb. 1.

Devotees who have been preparing and gathering for weeks were met with fog on the morning of the first day, but the sun soon appeared bringing unseasonably warm weather. Last year's Ijtema was cut short after just one day due to inclement weather.

Railway officials said a total of 42 special trains have been launched this for devotees during the Ijtema.

Authorities have imposed restrictions on transport movement on several routes in and around the north of the capital city from Friday.

The roads include Pragati Sarani crossing-Tongi-Gazipur crossing, Abdullahpur-Ashulia-Baipail crossing road, Mirpur road-Beribadh, Mirpur Zoo-Beribadh and Pallabi eastern housing-Beribadh.

Around 10,000 law enforcers—8,000 police, 660 ansar and 800 RAB personnel—have been deployed for safety in and around the Ijtema premises.

Gazipur police super Abdul Baten said devotees have to pass five tiers of security to reach the central stage of the Ijtema.

Detective branch, special branch, crime investigation department and national security intelligence and directorate general of forces intelligence in plain clothes are also keeping a close eye.

The on-duty officer in RAB control room said there are 48 CCTVs set up in the Ijtema ground to ensure security in every nook and corner in the premises.

Two helicopters are also hovering in the sky over the Ijtema ground and its surrounding area, he added.

Despite all measures, there was some disorder on the first day.

As many as 5000 devotees had lost their mobile sets during the Jumma prayers, Nurul Islam, a mobile phone vendor at Tongi's Cherag Ali Market, said.

He said over 200 people came to get replacement SIM cards to his shop alone.

Tongi police said they had detained 49 pickpockets.

One devotee died of cardiac arrest on the Ijtema premises.

The dead was identified as Mohammad Aziz, 70, of Sarishabari Upazila in Jamalpur.

Another woman named Parvin Akhtar, 45, died at Kamar Para, adjacent to the Ijtema premises.

Their Namaz e Janaza took place on the Ijtema ground.

A total of 104 patients were admitted to Tongi General Hospital. Of them, 45 patients were described to be in a critical condition. Most of them were had old-age complications. Some complained of asthma.