3 more devotees die at Ijtema venue

Muslim devotees rest at the World Muslim Congregation also known as `Biswa Ijtema`, at Tongi, on the outskirts of Dhaka on 10 January 2020. Photo: AFP
Muslim devotees rest at the World Muslim Congregation also known as `Biswa Ijtema`, at Tongi, on the outskirts of Dhaka on 10 January 2020. Photo: AFP

Three more devotees died due to old age complications and severe cold at the Ijtema venue in Tongi, Gazipur on Friday night and early Saturday, reports UNB.

The deceased were identified as Abdur Razzaque of Rajshahi, Abdul Tomij of Cumilla, and Md Shahajahan of Brahmanbaria.

Illias Hossain, a caretaker of the Ijtema ground, said they died in different times of Friday night and early Saturday at their respective tents.

With theses, a total of six devotees died at the Ijtema venue.

Earlier on Thursday night Khoka Mila, 60, of Sirajganj district and Mohammad Ali, 70 of Chattogram died while Yeakub Ali, 85, of Gopalganj, died just after arriving at the Ijtema venue on Thursday morning.

The first phase of Biswa Ijtema, the second largest congregation of Muslims after Hajj, began on the banks of the Turag river in Tongi after Fazr prayers on Friday.

The Ijtema began with "a'mbayan" (general sermons) by Pakistani Islamic scholar Maulana Obaidul Khorshed.