Eid of happiness returns

The Eid-ul-Fitr, one of the biggest religious festivals of the Muslims, is being celebrated across Bangladesh today with religious fervour after the Muslim’s holy month of Ramadan.

After two years of nationwide restrictions from time to time to contain the spread Covid infection, Eid is being celebrated in a much more normal situation this year amid the decreasing number of cases of the virus infection.

The first Eid jamaat at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque in the capital was held at 7am on the day of Eid-ul-Fitr.

Baitul Mukarram National Mosque Senior Pesh Imam Hafez Maulana Mizanur Rahman led the first Eid jamaat.

A total of five Eid jamaats will be held at the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque in the capital, according to a press release issued by Islamic Foundation on Saturday.

President Md Abdul Hamid and prime minister Sheikh Hasina, in separate messages, greeted the people of the country on the occasion of the Eid, Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha reported.

As the Shawwal moon was not sighted anywhere in the sky of Bangladesh on Sunday evening, Monday was the last day of the month of Ramadan and the Eid-ul-Fitr is going be celebrated in the country today.

The festival marks the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar.

The three-day public holiday on the occasion began on Sunday.

Tens of thousands of people have, meanwhile, left Dhaka and adjacent districts towards different districts around the country to celebrate the festival with their dear and near ones.

In a message, the President called upon the countrymen to celebrate the Eid festival maintaining proper health rules.

The Prime Minister, in her message, urged all to avoid public gatherings as much as possible.

In the capital, the main Eid jamaat will be held at the National Eidgah on the High Court premises in Dhaka at 8:30 am today.

If the congregation cannot be held due to inclement weather or any other unavoidable reason, it will be held at 9:00am at the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque in Dhaka.

Five congregations will take place at the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque between 7:00am and 10:45am, said Islamic Foundation officials in a press release.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner Md Shafiqul Islam on Monday said that fool proof security had been ensured at Jatiya Eidgah for holding Eid Jamaat smoothly.

‘Muslim devotees, who will come for prayers at Jatiya Eidgah on the occasion of the holy Eid-ul-Fitr, will not be allowed to bring anything except prayer mats and umbrellas,’ he told reporters after inspecting security measures of the congregation ground.

Another Eid congregation will be held at 8:30am at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad.

President Md Abdul Hamid will offer the Eid prayers along with his family members and some officials at the Bangabhaban Durbar Hall in Dhaka on the Eid day morning, the BSS reported.

After the prayers, Abdul Hamid will convey his Eid greetings to the countrymen through media at the Credential Hall of the Bangabhaban.

No ceremonial greetings with serving delicious food items in presence of the country's distinguished personalities and foreign diplomats or guests will take place, the Bangabhaban spokesman added.

Rapid Action Battalion on Monday said they were ready to provide security to the citizens during the Eid by mobilizing its nationwide networks.

Talking to the reporters while inspecting security arrangements at the Jatiya Eidgah, RAB director general Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun said that extra RAB personnel were called out to enforce the security vigil across the country.