Gazipur: The second phase of Biswa Ijtema, one of the biggest congregations of Muslims in the globe, began with religious sermons on Friday in Tongi on the outskirt of the capital, amid fool proof security.

The three-day Biswa Ijtema began on the bank of the Turag River after Fazr prayers with religious sermons delivered by Islamic Scholar Maulana Abdur Rahman from Pakistan.

Maulana Delwar Hossain of Bangladesh interpreted the sermons into Bengali.

Several lakh Muslim devotees, both from home and abroad, are converging on the congregation venue and attending the prayers with reciting the name of Allah and hearing the sermons.

The second phase Ijtema will conclude with Akheri Munajat on 17 January.

Besides, a devotee died of old age complications at the Ijtema venue on Thursday night.

The deceased is Abdur Rahman, believed to be 60, resident of Bogra.

Later, his body was handed over to his family following a namaz-e-janaza after Fazr prayers.

People from 16 districts, including Dhaka, Jhenidah, Thakurgaon, Jamalpur, Faridpur, Netrakona, Narsingdi, Comilla, Kurigram, Rajshahi, Feni, Sunamganj, Bogra, Khulna, Chuadanga and Pirojpur are entitled to attend the 2^nd phase Ijtema.

A large number of law enforcement agency members remained deployed in Tongi to ensure foolproof security to the Ijtema devotees.

Earlier, the first phase of the three-day Biswa Ijtema, organised by Tabligh Jamaat, was held on 8-10 January.

Ijtema is being held in two phases from 2012 to ease accommodation problem.