People crowd National Eidgah, chief advisor attends prayer service

Muhammad Yunus and people of all classes and professions took part in the congregation

As the Islamic holy month of Ramadan comes to a close, Muslims have gathered at the National Eidgah grounds for their Eid prayers.

The main Eid-ul-Fitr prayer congregation was held at 8:30am on Monday at the grounds next to the High Court.

In attendance were Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus, Religious Affairs Advisor AFM Khalid Hossain, Energy Advisor Fouzul Kabir Khan, Supreme Court justices, diplomats from different countries, the administrator of the Dhaka South City Corporation, politicians, intellectuals, government secretaries, and people of all classes and professions.

The main congregation at the Eidgah was led by Mufti Mohammad Abdul Malek, khatib of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque. The mosque’s Muezzin Muhammad Habibur Rahman was the reciter.

As the morning sun rose, people of all ages rushed to the Eidgah grounds from far and wide. Everyone wore fresh Punjabi kurtas and had skullcaps on their heads. Many carried prayer mats and water bottles.

Children and teenagers accompanied their guardians. They entered the grounds holding hands, shoulder to shoulder.

For security, people entering the grounds had to queue and pass through a security archway.

The police had earlier informed devotees that they could only carry prayer mats and wallets. With no forecast of rain on the horizon, there was no need for umbrellas either.

The line of visitors crowding the main gate stretched to the Paltan intersection, from the Matsya Bhaban intersection in the north to Bangabazar in the south.

Law enforcers have set up a security cordon around the Matsya Bhaban, Bangabazar, Paltan, and GPO intersections to ensure easy entry and exit to and from the grounds.

Police set up barricades to block all vehicles from the area. Vehicles were also barred from the Paltan intersection, Matsya Bhaban, Bangabazar, and Doel Chattar intersection. Those travelling to the Eidgah grounds had to continue on foot.

Separate arrangements have been made for men and women to pray at the Eidgah. Women entered through a separate entrance to the south of the grounds, separated by a curtain.

Meanwhile, as every year, five Eid prayer congregations are being held at Baitul Mukarram on Eid Day.

The first Eid prayer service was scheduled for 7am, the second at 8am, the third at 9am, the fourth at 10am, and the fifth at 10:45am.