The second phase of the largest annual Muslim congregation after holy Hajj began Friday morning in Bangladesh with religious sermons for millions of devotees from home and abroad.

The grand prayer at the three-day congregation called Biswa Ijtema on the bank of the Turag river at Tongi, some 25 km north of capital Dhaka, will be held on Sunday, seeking divine blessings and welfare of all mankind.

The first phase of the three-day Bishwa Ijtema, which is being held in two phases since 2011 to avoid mad rush of pilgrims, concluded with the offering of Akheri Munajat (concluding prayer) on Jan. 15.

The second phase of Bishwa Ijtema began Friday after Fazr (morning) prayers with religious sermons for the devotees, seeking world peace for the Muslim ummah.

Like the first phase, a large number of foreign pilgrims attended the second phase of the congregation.

To ensure safety and security of the devotees and maintain the law and order, thousands of members of different law-enforcing agencies have been deployed in and around 60-hectare Ijtema ground, the main venue of the congregation.

Observation towers have been set up at different strategic points to oversee people's movement. Endit

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