Dhaka (AsiaNews/Agencies) - At least two million Muslims are in the capital of Bangladesh, for the largest Islamic pilgrimage after the one to Mecca.

From January 30 until February 1, the faithful are gathering on the banks of the Turag, in the area of Tongi (in the photo), 20 kilometers north of Dhaka, in order to participate in the Biswa Ijtema, a worldwide gathering of Muslims that includes moments of prayer and preaching.

The annual gathering has been held since the 1960's, even before eastern Pakistan became independent in 1971, and is organized by Tablighi Jamaat. The Muslim association, created in the 1800's in India, presents itself as a moderate, nonpolitical missionary group, involved in activities of preaching and teaching for the rediscovery of Islam in daily life.

With its 144 million inhabitants, 90% of them Muslim, Bangladesh is considered the third largest Muslim country in the world by number of faithful. Tablighi Jamaat does not, however, limit its activity to Bangladesh and to the Deobandi Sunni community present also in India and Pakistan. The pilgrimage of Biswa Ijtema is an example of this: about 6,000 foreigners are in Tongi, from about one hundred countries.

Local security forces are monitoring the proceedings with 11,000 police and special forces agents.