Dhaka, June 26 – Eid-ul-Fitr, the greatest religious festival of the Muslims, was celebrated in Bangladesh on Monday with due solemnity and religious fervour. The festival came after the holy Ramadan, the month of fasting.
Eid-ul-Fitr prayers were offered by people from all strata of life at mosques and eidgahsin the capital and elsewhere across the country.President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina greeted the people as well as the Muslims across the world on occasion. President Hamid and his wife Rashida Khanom hosted a reception for senior government officials, city elite and diplomats at Bangabhaban in the morning.
Talking to the media at the reception, the President said the appeal of Eid-ul-Fitr is unique to build a peaceful and friendly society as it brings all people including rich-poor, elite and disadvantaged under the same umbrella.
While talking to the media after exchanging Eid greetings with a cross section of people, party leaders and workers and professionals at her official residence Gonobhaban here, the prime minister expressed her gratitude to the Almighty and extended thanks to the countrymen for celebrating the holy Eid-ul-Fitr amidst peaceful atmosphere and fanfare.
“By the grace of the Almighty, this year’s Eid has been celebrated in a peaceful manner without any disturbance, and it was possible as everybody was conscious and made their effort for holding the auspicious occasion in a quiet and calm atmosphere,” she said.
The country’s largest Eid congregation was held at Sholakia Eidgah of Kishoreganj district at 10am amid stringent security measures with thousands of Muslims offering the prayers seeking divine blessings, peace and progress for Bangladesh and the Muslim Ummah.
In Dhaka, the main Eid-ul-Fitr jamaat was held at the National Eidgah i at 8:30am where President Abdul Hamid offered Eid prayers along with a cross section of the people, including cabinet members, judges of the Supreme Court, members of parliament, high civil and military officials, diplomats of different Muslim countries, political leaders and elite.
After the prayers, President Hamid exchanged Eid greetings with devotees.
A special munajat was offered seeking divine blessings for peace and development of the country, welfare of the people and greater unity and integrity of the world Muslims.
Special arrangement was also made for women to offer Eid prayers at the venue.
Five Eid jamaats were held at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque like the previous years.
Another Eid jamaat was held at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban at 8:00am. Chief Whip ASM Firoz, Whip Md Atiur Rahman Atik, Health and Family Welfare Minister Mohammad Nasim, Science and Technology Minister Architect Yafes Osman, Textiles and Jute Minister Md Imaj Uddin, lawmakers, officials and employees of Parliament Secretariat participated in the jamaat, an official release said.
After the jamaat, Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad Dr. Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury exchanged greetings with the devotees.
Two Eid jamaats were held at Dhaka University central mosque. The first Jamaat was held at 8am conducted by Imam of the mosque Dr Syed Muhammad Emdad Uddin. The second jamaat was held at 9am. Besides, two Eid congregations were held at SM Hall and Shahidullah Hall of the university at 8am.
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University arranged Eid jamaat at 8am at its central mosque.
Members of law enforcement agencies, including police and the anti-crime elite force Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), ensured a foolproof security in the areas around the National Eidgah and all other Eid jamaat venues and their vicinity.
Besides, Eid congregations were also held on Khilkhet Kurmitola High School Eidgah Maidan, Matuail Eidgah Maidan, RK Mission Road Brothers Union Ground, Banani Pak Darbar Sharif, Kantaban Jame Mosque, Dhaka University Playground, Salimullah Hall Gate Ground, Uttara Jame Mosque Foundation, Shantibagh Shahi Jame Mosque, Abu Jar Gifari College Ground, Malibagh Jame Mosque, Hazaribagh Park, Tikatuli Jame Mosque and Uttar Kafrul Jheelpar Jame Mosque.
Eid jamaats also took place at Gulshan First Jame Mosque, Khilgaon Pallima Sangsad, Maghbazar Kazi Office Lane Baitul Quran Masjid, Sheikhdi Al Hera Jame Mosque at Jatrabari, Fazlul Haq Muslim Hall, Lalbagh Shahi Jame Mosque, Lalbagh Kella Jame Mosque, Al Madina Jame Mosque, Senpara Parbata Eidgah and Nayapaltan Jame Mosque, Mirpur-12 D Block Eidgah, Baitul Falah Complex at Pallabi, Maghbazar T&T Jame Mosque and Matuail Eidgah.
More Eid jamaats were held in different areas of the metropolis including Khejurbagan Jame Mosque, APBN Jame Mosque, Baitul Noor Jame Mosque, Shantinagar Aminbagh Jame Mosque, Garangira Complex and Mohammadpur Jame Mosque, Old Police Lines Jame Mosque, Islampur Jame Mosque, and Armanitola Play Ground.
People, soon after the Eid prayers, embraced each other and exchanged greetings in a spirit of unity, fraternity and equality as enshrined in Islam. They are now visiting the houses of their relatives, friends and neighbours to greet them.
Earlier, around 70 lakh people left the capital to enjoy the Eid with their near and dear ones at village homes to be with their families during the Eid.
The national flag was hoisted atop government and non-government buildings. The main city streets and road islands were decorated with the national flags and banners inscribed with ‘Eid Mubarak’ both in Bangla and Arabic.
Different television channels and radio stations aired special programmes on the occasion.
Special diets were served to the inmates of different hospitals, jails, correction centres, orphanages and other shelter homes in the capital and outside Dhaka. – BSS news agency.
