About 95 percent work for preparing the ground is complete and volunteers yesterday were giving final touch to the huge canopy erected on 160 acres of land on the eastern bank of the Turag river.

A separate camp was set up at the northern corner of the ground to provide accommodation to foreign devotees. The camp has tin and bamboo-made fencing around it. Foreign devotees would be supplied cooked food at the camp.

Devotees from around 60 countries are expected to attend the Ijtema considered as the second largest congregation of Muslims next to Hajj.

The three-day Ijtema begins on Thursday and ends on Sunday morning through Akheri Munajat.

The venue has been expanded to the eastern side to accommodate more devotees as the organisers expect a larger gathering this year compared to previous years.

Thousands of devotees sit on the adjoining roads, pavements and open spaces for lack of space under the canopy every year. Besides, thousands take shelter in nearby houses in Tongi and Uttara and participate in the Ijtema.

Hundreds of tube-wells have been installed and temporary latrines set up on the eastern and western sides of the venue.

Temporary water reservoirs have also been set up at different corners of the ground to provide ablution facilities to the devotees.

Army personnel were constructing four pontoon bridges on Turag to enable people to cross the river easily.

A large number of devotees from home and abroad have already come to Dhaka for joining the Ijtema. Many of them are now staying at Kakrail Mosque, the main centre of the organisers, and other mosques.

President Iajuddin Ahmed, Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and Leader of the Opposition Sheikh Hasina are expected to participate in the Akheri Munajat.

Islamic scholars from home and abroad will deliver speeches every day at the Ijtema highlighting various aspects of Islam. The speeches will be translated in various languages so that devotees could understand them.

The government has taken adequate measures to ensure security during the Ijtema and already deployed large contingents of police at the venue.

The police have set up check-points at different entrances to the ground. Rapid Action Battalion and army personnel were also seen yesterday on patrol in the area.

The Dhaka-Mymensingh highway will be off limits to traffic and vehicles will be diverted to Ashulia from Tongi bridge during the Ijtema. The authorities have asked Tangail- Mymensingh bound people to avoid Tongi road for some days.