FROM IJTEMA GROUND: A total of 26 pilgrims died during this year’s Biswa Ijtema, world’s second largest congregation of Muslims, on the banks of river Turag in the outskirts of Dhaka city.

Biswa Ijtema health camp sources said that ten people died in the first phase and ten others in the second phase of the congregation and six more pilgrims killed in road crash on Sunday morning.

Last year, the number of the dead persons was 21.

Earlier, the second phase of the Biswa Ijtema ended with a prayer, called ‘Akheri Munajat’. It was conducted by Maulana Zubayer Hasan around 10:10am on Sunday.

Thousands of devotees participated in the prayer in the second phase of the 49th Biswa Ijtema.

The first phase of the Ijtema ended on 26 January.

BDST: 1319 HRS, FEB 02, 2014