All preparations for the world congregation of Tabligi Jamaat known as Biswa Ijtema (world assembly of Muslims) at Tongi in northern Gazipur district north of the capital Dhaka are under way.
The first phase of the two-phase Ijtema will begin on the bank of the river Turag on January 8 with millions of devotees joining the annual event.
Organisers said that the first phase of the Ijtema will begin on January 8 and conclude on January 10 through the Akheri 
Munajat (concluding prayer).
The second phase will begin on January 15 and end on January 17 through another Akheri Munajat.
Preparations for the Ijtema are going on in full sewing on 160 acres of land on the eastern bank of the Turag on the outskirts of the capital. 
Hundreds of devotees are working voluntarily for electing canopies, filling earth and 
building fences.
The modernisation of the Ijtema ground started after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina came to power in 1996, said Jahid Hassan Russel, a member of parliament.
Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman allocated 160 acres of land after independence for holding the Ijtema.
Prime Minister Hasina so far offered 2bn taka for the development of Ijtema ground. She has directed all concerned to ensure security of services to all devotees from home and abroad.
Bangladesh Railway Tongi station master M Halimuzzaman said adequate measures have been taken to serve the Ijtema devotees. Sixty-seven trains will halt at Tongi station to carry the devotees.
A total 111 of trains will be carrying passengers of the day of Akheri Munajat. State-run Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTC) will operate special bus services for the Ijtema devotees.
Devotees from more than 160 countries take part in the Ijtema every year. Special arrangements are being made them with corrugated iron sheets at the northeast corner of the ground.
High-level meetings have been held to maintain law and order and ensure smooth supply of water, gas and electricity for the Ijtema devotees.
The army has made eight floating bridges across the Turag to facilitate movement of the devotees.
Four thousand members of police, elite security force Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and other agencies would be deployed to build a four-tier security blanket at the Ijtema ground.
RAB and police will make several observation towers and the whole Ijtema ground would be monitored through CCTV 
cameras. 
Organisers said different mobile operators will set up temporary network towers around the ground to facilitate the devotees.