Muslim Worshippers Swarm Trains for Grand Religious Event in Bangladesh

Photos show thousands of Muslim pilgrims swarm over passenger trains in Bangladesh recently for the grand World Muslim Congregation, aka Biswa Ijtema. Every inch of the engine, carriages, roofs, and even stairways, was occupied.

The three-day annual event is held in Tongi, a small town in Bangladesh. The festival starts on January 8 this year, drawing in Muslims from over 150 countries to Tongi. In 2010 alone, five million people attended the event, making it the second largest Muslim gathering only after the holy Hajj in Mecca.

Asaduzzaman Kamal, Minister of Home Affairs in Bangladesh, said that 5,000 police personnel, 60 CCTV cameras, five watch towers, and undercover police had been used to ensure security this year during the festival.