Only prayer mats and umbrellas allowed at Chittagong Eid prayers

Those joining the Eid congregation in Chittagong will not be allowed to carry anything other than umbrellas and prayer mats, said Chittagong Metropolitan Police Commissioner Iqbal Bahar.

The police official informed the media of the decision on Sunday after inspecting the preparations for the Eid prayers at the city’s Jamiatul Falah Jamme mosque grounds.

Bahar called on devotees to limit the number of items they carried.

“As rain has been forecast, please do not bring anything other than your prayer mats and umbrellas. Not even your mobile phones.”

“We believe there is no chance of militant or terrorist activity. But we cannot take things for granted and must take  necessary precautions. We must prepare for immediate action if the need arises.”

The CMP commissioner said that 403 different prayer congregations would be held for Eid at various locations around the port city.

“We have designated 137 among them as large congregations and taken the necessary precautions.”

The maximum possible security measures have been taken for the two largest congregations, those at the Jamiatul Falah Jamme Mosque and the Anderkilla Shahi Jamme Mosque, said Bahar.

Archways and metal detectors will be set up at the three entrances to the Jamiatul Falah Mosque’s Eidgah, the police official said.

Adequate security measures have been arranged for all amusement centres around the city for Eid day and afterwards so that people can enjoy without worry, Bahar said.

Ninety motorcycle teams, foot patrols and car patrol teams will be deployed to provide security for the city, the police commissioner said.

The CMP commissioner advised traders to carry as little cash as possible during Eid. He recommended depositing the money with local police stations by way of a general diary.