Eid-ul-Fitr celebrated in Bangladesh with festivities, prayers for peace

After a month of fasting, Muslums in Bangladesh have cekebrayed Eid-ul-Fitr amid festivities and prayers for peace and prosperity, and with messages of amity and fraternity.

Staff Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 26 June 2017, 08:11 PM
Updated : 26 June 2017, 08:11 PM

Eid celebration on Monday were subdued in Rangamati and a number of other northeastern districts where several thousand people are still living in shelter homes after the devastating landslides that killed over 160 people two weeks ago.

In the backdrop of last year's attack on Sholakia Eidhgah ground,  there were some inhibitions among the people, but in the end, the biggest day of celebration in the Islamic calendar passed off without any unpleasant incident, thanks to the tight security measures taken by the authorities.

President Md Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in their Eid messages hoped that everyone will spend the occasion with joy.

Kazi Nazrul Islam's signature song for the occasion 'Ramjaner Oi Rojar Sheshe Elo Khushir Eid' became the tune of the day and was being played as part of the celebration. The song carries the message of friendship and fellow-feeling.

Last year, a week before the Eid, during Ramadan, terrorists killed 22 people, including 17 foreigners, at Holey Artisan Bakery in Dhaka's Gulshan.

On the Eid day that year, four people were killed in a militant attack on a police check post at Sholakia Eid prayers ground in Kishoreganj just before the congregation.

Over 50 suspected militants were killed in drives by the security forces in the past one year after those two grisly attacks.

Security was on top of the government's priority list in this year's Eid.

Police had asked the people not to bring anything other than prayer mats to the Eid congregations. RAB and Ansar were also deployed.

People spent the day enjoying Eid delicacies, visiting friends and relatives' houses and hanging out in hotspots.  

The Eid marked the end of 29 days of Ramadan. In Bangladesh, it took place a day after Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states commemorated it.

According to Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, around eight million people left Dhaka to celebrate the Eid with their families and relatives.

With two days of the weekend added to the three-day Eid holidays, people had fewer sufferings in their otherwise arduous journey back home.

The festivities, however, began on Sunday evening after Religious Affairs Minister Matior Rahman announced the sighting of the Shawwal moon.

Tens of millions of Muslims across Bangladesh joined Eid congregations at prayer grounds and mosques from early in the morning.

The main congregation in Dhaka was held at the National Eidgah ground at 8:30am. Baitul Mukarram National Mosque's Senior Imam Maulana Md Mizanur Rahman conducted the prayers.

He prayed for peace and prosperity of the country as well as the Muslim world.

President Hamid, Supreme Court judges, Cabinet members, MPs and politicians joined other worshippers at the congregation.

The Met office had said Dhaka was likely to enjoy a sunny morning on the Eid day, but it might rain in the afternoon. The forecast came out to be true as very few places in Dhaka experienced a little rain in the afternoon.

President Hamid exchanged greetings with guests at the Bangabhaban at 10am after the prayers.

“Eid brings together people from all walks of life in amity, harmony and unity,” he said. “Eid-ul-Fitr is an eternal call for the creation of a peaceful and united society.”

Prime Minister Hasina shared the Eid joy with Awami League leaders and people from all echelons of society, including top judges and foreign diplomats, at the Ganabhaban starting from 9:30am.

She said her government wanted the joy of the festival to reach every household in Bangladesh.

The prime minister called for the support of everyone in creating a developed and prosperous Bangladesh.

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia exchanged greetings with thevpeople and diplomats at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre from 12pm.

She said the people cannot celebrate Eid happily because of the destruction, disaster and rising inequality in Bangladesh.

“You all know that Eid is a time of celebrations for all Muslims. But there is no joy in our hearts this Eid. There is no joy in the hearts of Bangladeshis across the country. We cannot enjoy a festive environment,” the former prime minister said.

Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Raushon Ershad and Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad exchanged Eid greetings in the party office at Banani from 11am.

On Sunday, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states celebrated Eid along with Muslims in Japan, Malaysia, the US, the UK, Italy, France, Spain and Germany.

More than a hundred villages across Bangladesh celebrated Eid on Sunday in keeping with a tradition of commemorating all religious festivals with Saudi Arabia.

On the occasion of the Eid, special menus were served at state-run hospitals, children’s homes, shelters, safe homes and jails.

Bangladesh Betar, Bangladesh Television and other private TV and radio stations are broadcasting special programmes. The newspapers also brought out special supplements on Sunday.