Eid-ul-Fitr was celebrated throughout the country on Friday with traditional fervour and festivity ending a month of fasting.
In the capital, the main Eid congregation was held at the National Eidgah under tight security. The Khatib of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque Maulana Muhammad Salahuddin led the prayer.
President Abdul Hamid, ministers, MPs, Supreme Court judges, politicians, the city elite, diplomats from different Muslim countries offered Eid prayers at the National Eidgah with thousands of city dwellers.
Special arrangements were made for women to offer their Eid prayers at the National Eidgah.
A special munajat was offered seeking divine blessings for peace and progress of the country and the unity of the Muslim Ummah.
Thousands of city dwellers offered Eid prayers at five congregations at the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque held every hour from 7 AM.
The country’s biggest Eid congregation held at Sholakia Eidgah in Kishoreganj drew more than three lakh people from different parts of Bangladesh to offer their prayer as usual. Founded in 1750, the Sholakia Eidgah continues to draw people from all over the country to offer their Eid prayers.
Out of Dhaka city’s 379 Eid jamaats 146 were held in Dhaka North City areas and 233 in Dhaka South City areas.
People of all ages, young and old, celebrated Eid-ul-Fitr after 29 days of fasting in Ramadan.
President Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the Leader of the opposition Khaleda Zia hosted separate receptions in the city to exchange Eid greetings with the people from all walks of life.
The capital was decorated with banners and festoons inscribed with Eid greetings.
National flag was hoisted atop the government offices.
The city streets, however, were free from the usual traffic congestion.
Children in colourful attires made the most of the celebrations.
Relations and friends exchanged visits, needing no invitation. On the Eid Day people have open houses.
The usual crowds virtually disappeared from the capital with millions of city dwellers opting to celebrate the great festival in the countryside.
Hospitals, jails, the orphanages and welfare centres for the needy children served special dishes.
Law enforcement agencies intensified surveillance in the city to thwart possible untoward incidents.
In the port city of Chittagong the main Eid congregation was held at Jamiatul Falah Mosque ground.
In the cities of Khulna, Sylhet, Rajshahi, Barisal and Rangpur also big Eid congregations were held.
-With New Age input