TONGI, Bangladesh, (Agencies) - The Biswa Ijtema, the second largest Muslim congregation in the world after the Hajj, ended with millions of devotees saying their final prayers on the banks of the Turag River in Tongi outside Dhaka at midday on Sunday, seeking peace on earth and prosperity of Muslims. Police Inspector Mamun Hasan said at least four million people, including Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, attended the event. This year a record number of people have turned up due to better weather, Hasan said, adding security had been tight with more than 10,000 police on guard. Police said 25,000 foreigners from around 110 countries attended the event but that most of the faithful were poor rural Bangladeshis who equate the event to the Hajj. The three-day Biswa Ijtema ended with Maulana Jubayerul Hassan from India leading the Akhri Munajaat (final supplications) that began at 12:20pm on the bank of Turag River. President M Zillur Rahman, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Opposition Leader Khaleda Zia were among those who attended the final prayers. Arrangements were also made for ministers, MPs and other VIPs, said Abul Bashar Mohammad Ameer Uddin, administrative officer of the Ijtema venue. The faithful from Bangladesh and around the world flocked to the annual 3-day Tablighi Jamaat Islamic congregation on the outskirts of the capital. Many devotees, braving the winter cold and fog, spent the days and nights under open sky this year unable to find space under the huge makeshift pandals or designated shelters. Large numbers were also seen taking part in the congregation from rooftops of nearby buildings and roads. The three-day event began with the Aam Bayan, or principal sermon, after the Fajr prayers on Friday. Ijtema volunteer M Gias-uddin told bdnews24.com the largest Juma congregation in South Asia was also held at the Ijtema venue at noon on Friday. Throughout the three days, discussions on various aspects of Islam, recitation of the Holy Quran and Hadith and other religious programmes are held. Ulema and Islamic scholars from Pakistan, India and other countries delivered lectures this year, which were simultaneously translated for devotees into Bangla, English, Arabic, Tamil, Chinese and among other languages. Volunteer Abdul Quddus said tens of thousands of faithful had arrived from UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Jordan, Algeria, Qatar, Palestine, Bahrain, Tunisia, Yemen, Iraq, Ethiopia, Lebanon, Djibouti, Somalia and France this year. On Saturday, the second day of the gathering, 140 couples were married dowry-free, according to Ijtema tradition, with the consent of the bride and bridegroom and their guardians. The mass wedding was held in a ceremony beside the Bayan stage after Asr prayers. Gazipur district police chief Mahfuzul Haq Nuruzzaman told journalists that huge security preparations were taken to hold a successful Ijtema. He said some 18,000 security personnel from different agencies and several hundred plainclothes law enforcers were deployed in and around 0.65 sq-km venue as part of multi-tier security measures to avert any possible trouble.