Celebrations as Eid-ul-Fitr today

Eid-ul-Fitr, the largest religious festival of Muslims, is being celebrated across the country today with due solemnity and religious fervour as Shawwal moon was sighted yesterday evening.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the Moon Sighting Committee at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque last evening.

The committee made the call after reviewing data from all district administrations, Islamic Foundation head offices, divisional and district offices, the Meteorological Department and space research and remote sensing institutes.

Meanwhile, all preparations for holding Eid congregations have already been completed in the capital and elsewhere in the country.

A large number of people have left Dhaka for their homes outside the capital to celebrate Eid with their near and dear ones.

Bangladesh Television, Bangladesh Betar and all television channels will air special programmes and many newspapers will publish supplements on the occasion. Special food will be served in hospitals, jails and orphanages.

Eid jamaats

Islamic Foundation said there will be five jamaats at the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque on the day of Eid-ul-Fitr.

The first jamaat will be held at 7:00 am while the next four Jamaats will be held at 8:00 am, 9:00 am, 10:00 am and 10:45 am.

Eid-ul-Fitr jamaats will also be held at mosques and Eidgahs all over the country.

The largest Eid-ul-Fitr jamaat (congregation) of the country will be held on the historic Sholakia Eidgah Maidan with participation of over thousands of devotees from home and abroad amid security measures.

Rain likely

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department has forecast rains again for Eid day.

In Dhaka and elsewhere, the rains with gusts brought some respite from the heatwave that has continued for weeks.

“It may rain at some places on Saturday,” said meteorologist Abdul Hamid.

In the forecast for Saturday, the Met Office said rain or thunder showers accompanied by temporary gusty wind is likely to occur over all the eight divisions. Some places may experience hailstorms.

It said the mild to moderate heatwave sweeping over Dhaka, Rajshahi and Khulna divisions may abate at some places.

Day and night temperatures may fall slightly over the country.