Sholakia ready for nation's largest Eid congregation

Like every year, Bangladesh's biggest Eid congregation will be held at Sholakia Eidgah, Kishoreganj.

The Eidgah committee has said they have completed all the preparations to hold the congregation.

Maulana Farid Uddin Masud will lead the congregation, which will take place at 10am on Eid day.

District administration has prepared the grounds, finished painting it and drawn up rows for prayers.

Two special trains "Sholakia Special" will be arranged for the convenience of the devout Muslims.

One will start at 6 am from Mymensingh, the other from Bhairab.

After the prayers the trains will leave Kishoreganj around 12pm.

Kishoreganj Police Superintendent Anwar Hossain Khan and Deputy Commissioner SM Alam said they had completed all arrangements for a hassle-free congregation.

Moreover, thousands of policemen would be deployed at the Eidgah and in surrounding areas to ensure security during Eid-ul-Fitr.

" All those joining the congregation will be frisked by metal detector. In addition, watch tower and close circuit cameras will be set up to thwart subversive attempts," Anwar Hossain said.

Having established his fiefdom, Dewan Hazrat Khan Bahadur, 6th descendant of Isha Khan, built Sholakia Eidgah in 1828 on the bank of Narasunda river.

According to local researchers, around 125,000 Muslims took part in the first congregation.

So the Eidgah got the name from Shoa Lakhi Math (shoa meaning one and a quarter and lakh meaning a hundred thousand), the pronunciation gradually degenerated into 'Sholakia'.

There are 265 rows at the Eidgah, each row can accommodate 500 participants. Total number of participants including those take part in the surrounding areas exceed 250,000 to 300,000.

Sholakia Jama Mosque Imam Lutfor Rahman Golap said," Since hundreds of thousands of people take part in the congregation, people believe God will accept their prayers. So they take part in the congregation in large numbers."