DHAKA: State Minister for Home Asaduzzaman Khan Saturday said all out preparations have been taken to ensure services for devotees in the upcoming two-phase Biswa Ijtema, the second largest congregation of Muslims after the holy Hajj.

He said it while talking to reporters after a meeting on overall preparations the Ijtema at Tongi region office of Gazipur City Corporation.

The first phase of the Biswa Ijtema will begin on January 9 on the bank of the Turag River at Tongi on the outskirts of the capital, and conclude through Akheri Munajat on January 11.

Liberation War affairs minster AKM Mozammel Haq, in his speech, said duties have been distributed among different government agencies to ensure proper transportation, sanitation, fire safety measures, water supply, electricity supply and health services for the devotees.

Gazipur Police Super Harun-or-Rashid said five-tier security measures would be taken with deployment of around 9,500 members of law enforcers.

The RAB, civil-dressed police, the intelligence units will also be deployed in and around the Ijtema ground, he added.

Five sub-control rooms will monitor security under a central control room. Three helipads will be set up for carrying VIPs and accidents, the SP added.

Regarding foreign devotees’ visas and entertainment, Home ministry additional secretary said the government will issue two categories of visas for foreigners while 130-day visa for Chilla devotees.
 
Earlier, the government asked authorities concerned to issue visas to the people of Ebola-virus affected countries after showing Ebola-free medical certificate.

With Gazipur mayor professor M A Mannan  in the chair, Home ministry senior secretary Mozammel Haque, Inspector General of police AKM Shahedul Haque, Police Dhaka Range DIG ASM Mahfuzul Haque Nuruzzaman, Gazipur deputy Commissioner Nurul Islam, Ijtema murubii  former secretary Badiur Rahman  and GCC chief executive officer Sultan Mahmud attended the meeting.

BDST: 1727 HRS, JAN 03, 2015