Eid-ul-Fitr, the biggest religious festival of the Muslims, will be celebrated in Bangladesh tomorrow subject to sighting of Shawal moon after a month of fasting.
The national moon sighting committee meets at 7:10pm today at the Bangladesh Islamic Foundation to review reports on the sighting of the Shawal moon in Bangladesh. The Eid will be celebrated on Saturday if the moon is not sighted today.
Muslims across the world will seek divine blessings at Eid prayers for peace, progress and prosperity.
The president, Abdul Hamid, the prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, and the leader of the opposition in parliament, Khaleda Zia, greeted the Muslims in Bangladesh and all over the world on the occasion of the Eid-ul-Fitr.
In his message, the president said Eid means delight and happiness. It brings boundless delight and the message of pleasure for mankind after the month-long abstinence [fasting]. ‘Eid forges bond of harmony, amity and unity among people of all strata and professions,’ he added.
The prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, in her message, said the holy Eid-ul-Fitr has come with the message of delight after the month-long fasting. The Prime Minister called upon all to reflect the teachings of Eid-ul-Fitr in personal, social and national lives.
The BNP chairperson, Khaleda Zia, said Eid-ul-Fitr brings greater unity among the people, sinking all differences and crossing all boundaries in society. ‘As Muslims, it is our responsibility to extend helping hands to the poorer, neglected and deprived people of society, being inspired with the spirit of Eid-ul-Fitr,’ Khaleda said.
President Abdul Hamid will exchange greetings with the top tire of the government, elite of the society and diplomats at Bangabhaban. At first, foreign diplomats will exchange greetings with the president at 10:00 am.
Later, eminent citizens, including high civil and military officials will exchange pleasantries with the president from 10:30am and 11:30am.
Hasina will exchange Eid greetings with people from all walks of life on the Eid day at her official residence, Ganabhaban, in the morning.
Khaleda will exchange Eid greetings with eminent citizens and foreign diplomats stationed in Dhaka. The Eid reception would be held at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar.
She will exchange greetings with eminent citizens from 11:00am to 12:15pm while with diplomats from 12:15pm to 12:45pm.
The main Eid congregation will be held at the National Eidgah at 8:00am. In case of inclement weather, the congregation will be held at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque at 9:00am.
Five congregations will be held at Baitul Mukarram at 7:00am, 8:00am, 9:00am, 10:00am and 11:00am.
Dhaka South City Corporation, Dhaka North City Corporation, Dhaka Metropolitan Police, Dhaka divisional commissioner’s office, Islamic Foundation, mass communications department and Public Works Department said that they had completed all preparations for holding the main Eid congregation at the National Eidgah.
The authorities have made special arrangements for women and foreign dignitaries and spouses to say prayers at the National Eidgah.
The national flag will be hoisted atop all government buildings on the day of Eid.
Both Dhaka city corporations will hoist flags inscribed with ‘Eid Mubarak’ on poles set up along city roads.
Hospitals, children’s homes and jails will serve special diets.
The city corporations and a number of socio-cultural organisations said that they had completed preparations for holding Eid congregations in the capital.
Similarly preparations have also been made for holding congregations elsewhere across the country.
The Dhaka city corporations will hold about 360 Eid congregations in the capital.
An Eid congregation will be held at Dhaka University central mosque and Bashiruddin Road Jam-e-Masjid.
Eid congregation will be held at the south plaza of the parliament building at 8:00am.
The parliament secretariat will arrange the congregation to be attended, among others, by whips of parliament, secretaries and employees, said a press release.
Socio-religious organisations have, meanwhile, made separate arrangements for Eid congregations in different neighbourhoods in the city.
The country’s largest Eid congregation will take place at Sholakhia in Kishoreganj.
Bangladesh Betar, Bangladesh Television and private television channels will air special programmes and newspapers will carry special supplements to mark the occasion.
Bangladesh missions abroad will also celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr, an official handout said.
The Dhaka city corporations arranged entry of all poor children to all its children’s parks free of cost on the Eid day.
All preparations, including setting up of structures for 244 Eid congregations at traditional and temporary venues have been completed in the port city of Chittagong.
The congregations will be held under the supervision of Chittagong Central Eid Jamaat Committee and the Chittagong City Corporation.
Local administration, CCC and CCEJC sources said all preparations had been completed in the port city under the auspices of Chittagong district administration, metropolitan police and other religious organisations for celebration of the Eid-ul-Fitr.
Outlying city corporations, district administrations and upazila administrations have taken up similar programmes for the celebrations.
-With New Age input
