DHAKA: Three devotees died in the second phase of the 50th Biswa Ijtema in Tongi, outskirts of the city, between Wednesday night and Friday morning.

The dead persons are A Rahman, 65, of Shahjahanpur of Bogra, Abdul Kuddus, 62, of Dumni of Laxmipur, and Billal Hossain, 30, of Patuakhali district.

Of them, Billal died on Wednesday night. Rest of the two died of respiratory illness caused by cold weather. Their namaz-e-janaza was held after Fajr prayers.

Murubbi of Ijtema ground Engineer Gias Uddin confirmed the matters to banglanews.

The second phase of the three-day Biswa Ijtema, organised by Tablig Jamaat, has begun on Friday. It will end on Sunday with the Akheri Munajat seeking spiritual wellbeing and welfare of the Muslim Ummah.

The first phase of Ijtema was held on January 9-11.

BDST: 1221 HRS, JAN 16, 2015