Gazipur: The final prayer, known as Akheri Munajat, of the three-day of Biswa Ijtema on the banks of the River Turag at Tongi was offered on Sunday.

Tens of thousands of Muslims from about 100 countries and 16 districts participated in the first phase amid intensified security measures.

Organizers said as many as four million people from all walks of life are expected to join the Akheri Munajat before the Zohr prayers at about 11:00am till 11:36am on Sunday.

Deputy speaker, cabinet members, lawmakers, professionals, political leaders and senior officials joined the concluding prayer.

Loudspeakers were set up at all directions beyond the Ijtema ground to facilitate people to listen to the munajat.

Police super of Gazipur Harun-Or-Rashid said 7,804 foreigners of about 91 countries while thousands others of 16 districts across the country joined the Ijtema ground since Thursday last to seek divine blessings of the Almighty Allah.

The devotees of foreign countries including India, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Arab Emirates, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, Algeria, Oman, Yemen, Sudan, Palestine, Tunisia, Bahrain, France, Kuwait, Somalia, Kenya, Germany, Switzerland, Canada, the United States, Iraq and Iran are taking part in the Akheri Munajat.

Besides, the devotees of 16 districts—Gazipur, Dhaka, Tangail, Mymensingh, Brahmanbaria, Manikganj, Rangpur, Chapainawabganj, Rangamati, Bandarban, Gopalganj, Shariatpur, Jessore, Khagrachhari, Joypurhat, Moulvibazar and Satkhira attended the Ijtema.

‘Two more Ijtema devotees, Korshed Alam, and Tara Miah, died on the first phase of the Ijtema raising the death toll to nine,’ said physician of Tongi General Hospital Mokhlesur Rahman.

He said they died of cold, old-aged complications, illness and cardiac arrests.

Meanwhile, a five-tier security measures has been taken for the event along with deployment of several thousand members of different law-enforcement agencies, including RAB and police.

RAB members are patrolling the ground and the adjacent areas with helicopters to monitor security measures.

Gazipur Additional District Magistrate Mohammad Rahenul Islam said apart from other security vigilances, 10 mobile courts are working round-the-clock to ensure the supply of hygienic food.

Several health centres were also set up at different parts of the Ijtema venue with beds and almost all first aid and other treatment facilities. Doctors are performing round-the-clock duty at each centre.

Special measures have also been taken to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply during the three-day Ijtema.

Earlier, the Ijtema formally began with ‘ambayan’ (general sermon) after Fazr prayers at dawn on Friday.

The sermons were translated into different languages of the world.

The second phase of the Ijtema is scheduled to begin on 20 January at the same venue and it will end on 22 January.

Tablig Jamaat has been organizing the Biswa Ijtema on the bank of River Turag since 1967. Now Ijtema is being held in two phases since 2011 to ease the accommodation problem, an organizer said.