TONGI:  The bank of Turag River, hosting ground of Biswa Ijtema, the second largest Muslim congregation after the holy Hajj, has been flooded with thousands of devotees on Saturday, the second day of the three-day event.

Hundreds of devotees are still thronging Tongi from various parts of the country defying rain, chilling weather, nationwide blockade to attend the congregation. 

The rush is expected to continue till Sunday when the second phase of the 50th congregation of Muslims will come to an end through offering Akheri Munajat.

On the other hand, five devotees died due to cold related diseases at Ijtema ground between Wednesday night and Saturday morning.

However, the second phase of 50th congregation began with religious sermons delivered by Pakistani Islamic scholar Maulana Ismail Hossain Godrar after the Fajr prayers.

Indian Maulana Shawkat Hossain is delivering boyans (sermons) in Hindi after Fajr prayers on the second day while Bangladeshi Maulana Nurur Rahman is conveying the sermons to the devotees converting into bangla.

The devotees from the 33 districts along with hundreds of foreign devotees joined the second phase which began on Friday through delivering Amboyan amidst ongoing blockade of the BNP-led alliance.

The districts are Narayanganj, Dhaka, Cox's Bazar, Manikganj, Pirojpur, Patuakhali, Tangail, Jamalpur, Barisal, Netrakona, Comilla, Meherpur, Jhenidah, Mymensingh, Laxmipur, Brahmanbaria, Kurigram, Bogra, Panchagarh, Chapainawabganj, Nilphamari, Noakhali, Thakurgaon, Pabna, Naogaon, Munshiganj, Madaripur, Gopalganj, Satkhira, Kushtia, Magura, Sunamganj, Khulna and Moulvibazar, said organizers.

The religious event includes delivering boyans (sermons) on the fundamental issues of Tabligh, prayer for the spiritual adoration, exaltation and welfare of the Muslim Ummah.

The first phase of Biswa Ijtema was held at the same venue on January 09-11.

BDST: 1151 HRS, JAN 17, 2015