Eid-ul-Fitr celebrated countrywide with due religious fervour, gaiety

Holy Eid-ul-Fitr, the greatest religious festival of Muslims, was celebrated today (21 March) across the country with due religious fervour and gaiety.

The main jamaat of the Eid-ul-Fitr was held at the National Eidgah on the High Court premises around 8:30am.

President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman offered their Eid-ul-Fitr prayers at the National Eidgah Maidan.

Khatib of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque, Mufti Muhammad Abdul Malek, led the prayers at the National Eidgah and administered munajat (prayer), seeking peace and welfare for the country and the whole Muslim world.

Chief Justice, cabinet members, judges of the Supreme Court, senior political leaders and high civil and military officials also offered their prayers.

After the prayers, the President exchanged Eid greetings with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.

The President also exchanged Eid greetings with other dignitaries, senior political leaders and other devotees.

There were arrangements for about 35,000 people to offer prayers at a time at the National Eidgah. There were also separate arrangements for women.

Despite the cloudy sky and drizzle, devotees thronged the National Eidgah to offer Eid prayers. They started coming to the National Eidgah ground from different parts of the capital since early morning. The entire ground was filled before the Eid congregation began.

An adequate number of police, RAB and other law enforcement agencies were deployed to ensure law and order at the Eidgah. Besides, Special Security Force (SSF) members were working for the security of the VVIPs.

Rows of water taps were newly installed for ablution.

There were two entrances to the National Eidgah. A separate gate has been made through the Supreme Court premises for the entry of VVIPs. There was a separate entrance for women.

A total of five Eid jamaats were held at the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque today.

The Eid congregations were at 7am, 8am, 9am, 10am, and 10am.

Maulana Mizanur Rahman, Senior Pesh Imam of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque led the first congregation; Mufti Muhibbullahil Baqi Nadvi, Pesh Imam of the mosque led the second; Maulana Md. Zakir Hossain, Deputy Director of the Islamic Foundation led the third; Maulana Zobayer Ahmed Al Azhari, Religious Instructor at the Imam Training Academy led the fourth; and Mufti Maulana Mohammad Abdullah of the Islamic Foundation led the fifth and final congregation.

After offering prayers, the Muslims exchanged greetings at prayer venues with each other.

An Eid-ul-Fitr congregation was held in the tunnel of South Plaza of National Parliament building at 8am.

Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, Bir Bikram, officials and employees of the Parliament Secretariat, and Muslims from all walks of life participated in the congregation.

For the first time this year, separate arrangement was there in the Eid congregation for women. Secretary of the National Parliament Secretariat Kaniz Maula participated in the congregation.

As per the instruction of the Speaker, arrangements Eid prayers were taken under the tunnel, considering inclement weather.

After the congregation, a special prayer was offered seeking the welfare, happiness, peace and prosperity of the entire Muslim Ummah and the country.

The prayer was led by Senior Imam of the National Parliament Secretariat Muhammad Saifullah.

Later, the Speaker exchanged greetings with the devotees. Dates and sweetmeats were served to the devotees on the occasion.

An Eid Jamaat was held at the old place of Dhaka International Trade Fair (DITF) adjacent to Bangladesh China-Friendship Conference Center in city's Agargaon under the management of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC).

The congregation was held at 8 am and led by Maulana Qari Golam Mustafa. Mufti Maulana Atiqur Rahman was the alternate imam.

DNCC Administrator Md. Safiqul Islam Khan offered prayers and later exchanged Eid greetings with the devotees.

Devotees from all walks of life, including officials and employees of DNCC participated in the congregation.

After the prayers, the Imam delivered a sermon and prayers were offered seeking blessing of the Allah for forgiveness from sins and welfare of the country and world community.

President Mohammed Shahabuddin exchanged Eid greetings with cross section of people at Bangabhaban here.

He greeted the countrymen and all Muslims around the world on the occasion of the holy Eid-ul-Fitr.

Around 10,000 distinguished personalities and people were invited to the Bangabhaban on the occasion.

President's wife Dr Rebeka Sultana and other family members and secretaries concerned, among others, accompanied the President.

Chief Justice, cabinet members, advisers to the prime minister, foreign diplomats, Supreme Court judges, academics, valiant freedom fighters, editors, senior journalists, writers, artistes, leaders of different political parties, business community leaders and high civil and military officials were invited.

The guests were entertained with different food items in a traditional manner.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has also exchanged greetings with people from all walks of life, including foreign diplomats and educationists at the State Guest House Jamuna here this morning.

He first exchanged greetings with foreign diplomats.

Then, Tarique Rahman exchanged Eid greetings with cabinet members, members of parliament, distinguished citizens, academicians, ulema and mashaikh, artistes and writers, and senior civil servants and civil society members as well as cross sections of people.

Earlier, the Prime Minister went to the Jamuna to exchange Eid greetings after offering Eid-ul-Fitr prayers at the National Eidgah ground in the city.

After the event, he along with his family members went to Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in the city to offer ziarat at the graves of his father Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman and mother former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia.

During the ziarat, they recited the fateha and offered prayers (dua) seeking eternal peace for the departed souls of his parents.

Tarique Rahman's wife Dr Zubaida Rahman and his daughter Barrister Zaima Rahman, and Arafat Rahman Koko's wife Syeda Sharmila Rahman and daughters Zahia Rahman and Zafia Rahman were present at that time.

Later, as the Chairman of BNP, Tarique Rahman along with senior party leaders placed a floral wreath at the graves on behalf of the party.

Leader of the Opposition in the Jatiya Sangsad and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman offered the holy Eid-ul-Fitr prayers at 8am at the Monipur Girls' High School ground adjacent to the 60 Feet Road in Mirpur here.

After the prayers, he exchanged Eid greetings and pleasantries with people from various walks of life, said a press release.

Later, he exchanged Eid greetings with diplomats stationed in Dhaka at his official residence on 29 Minto Road from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm and with political leaders and people from different professions from 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm.

Millions of dwellers left the capital earlier to share the joy of Eid with their beloved ones and relatives in their village homes.

In the port city Chattogram, holy Eid-ul-Fitr was celebrated with great religious fervour and joy.

A total of 321 Eid congregations, including three major ones at M A Aziz Stadium and Jamiatul Falah Mosque were held in the port city under the auspices of Chattogram Central Eid Jamaat Committee (CCEJC) and Chattogram City Corporation (CCC), respectively.

In Kishoreganj, hundreds of thousands of people offered their Eid prayers at the country's largest and most historic Sholakia Eidgah.

The huge congregation was completed peacefully with the presence of more than six lakh devotees, according to officials.

The 199th congregation held at 10 am was led by Mufti Abul Khair Mohammad Saifullah, Khatib of Boro Bazar Jame Mosque.

Along with the religious solemnity, strict security arrangements were in place throughout the event.

Deputy Commissioner and President of Sholakia Eidgah Management Committee Mohammad Aslam Mollah said that despite such a large gathering, it was possible to maintain order due to the collective efforts of everyone.

He said that this year's congregation was one of the largest and most orderly events in recent times.

In Dinapur, thousands of devotees gathered this morning at the historic Gor-e-Shaheed Maidan in Dinajpur to offer Eid-ul-Fitr prayers held at 9:00am.

Recognized as the largest Eidgah in South Asia, the venue drew devotees from across the country, including districts such as Kishoreganj, Bagerhat, Nilphamari, Panchagarh, Thakurgaon, Dhaka, and Gazipur. However, attendance was slightly lower this year due to inclement weather the previous night.

Devotees began arriving at the Eidgah from as early as 6:00am, creating a steady influx of devotees ahead of the main congregation. The prayers were led by Maulana Matiur Rahman Qasemi, President of the National Imam Association, Dinajpur.

Following the prayers, special munajat and doa were offered seeking peace, prosperity and well-being for the country, the nation, the Middle East, and the global Muslim Ummah. Prayers were also offered for the martyrs and injured of the 1971 Liberation War and recent national events.

The historic Gor-e-Shaheed Ground and its Eidgah Minar span approximately 21.99 acres. While Eid congregations have been held at the site since 1947, large-scale modern arrangements for prayers began in 2017.

With identical programmes, Eid-ul-Fitr was celebrated across the country including divisional cities and district towns.

To create a festive atmosphere on the holy day, various important roads and road islands in the capital were decorated with festoons.

Improved diets were served in all prisons of the country, including the central prison, government hospitals, old-age homes, orphanages and other places.

State-run Bangladesh Betar and Bangladesh Television and private TV channels and radio broadcast special entertainment programmes on the occasion of the festival.