The quest for the soul's salvation drove countless devotees to brave the inclement weather at the Biswa Ijtema, the second largest congregation of Muslims after Hajj.

At least five devotees passed away so far in the first day of the first phase of the congregation, and the day before, reports UNB.

Two of the deceased--Nurul Islam, hailed from Chaklapara village under Ulipur upazila in Kurigram, and Farid Uddin, arrived from Batia village in Singra upazila of Natore district, died on Thursday night while another Joynal Abedin from Rankali village in Golapganj upazila of Sylhet district, died around 12:45 am on Friday.

Identities of others who died on the Ijtema ground on Friday night could not be known when the report was filed.

The namaz-e-janaza of the two was held at the Ijtema ground after Fazr prayers on Saturday.

The first phase of the three-day Biswa Ijtema began on January 8 at the bank of the Turag at Tongi in Gazipur with a large number of devotees congregating from home and abroad.