Staff Reporter
The Christian community will celebrate the largest religious festival ‘Christmas Day’ today across the country in remembrance of the birth of Jesus Christ.
The Christian community believes, God appeared on earth through his son, Jesus Christ, on Christmas Day. It is also a celebration of rebirth, new beginnings, forgiveness and peace as the New Year approaches. It is an occasion for the Christians to renew their relationship with god and with their fellow humans.
The day’s festive activities include decoration of X-mass trees with lights, special church services, distribution of gifts among the children by Santa Claus, family gatherings and Christmas Day feasts. The day is a public holiday.
To ensure peaceful celebrations of Christmas, security had been beefed up in the capital city and elsewhere in the country. Police and RAB personnel have been deployed to ensure safety.
Radio and TV channels will put up special Christmas Day programmes, while national dailies will publish supplements highlighting the significance of the day.
A number of organisations and individuals will throw parties, featuring Christmas carols, games, dance shows and seetting of Christmas cakes.
The main Christmas congregation to be held at the Ramna Cathedral will be conducted by Archbishop Costa, but the largest congregation is traditionally held at Tejgaon Church.
The Radission Water Garder Hotel, Sonargaon and Dhaka Sheraton hotels will offer special lunch and dinner and a Christmas party.
President Iajuddin Ahmed will host a reception for the members of Christian community at Bangabhaban tomorrow.
The President, Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed, BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina greeted the people of the Christian community and wished them the best.
President Iajuddin, in his message, said Jesus Christ is one of the prophets who emerged in the globe with the message of peace from time to time.
“The ideals of the great Jesus Christ are welfare of humanity and the glory of sacrifice. His ideals inspire mankind to tread the path of truth, welfare and peace.” Iajuddin added.
“All of us will have to be careful to uphold the continued glorious history of communal harmony in Bangladesh,” said the chief adviser in his message.
The Archbishop of Dhaka in his Christmas message yesterday urged all to be united in electing good leaders for the country.
Archbishop Paulinus Costa, in his Christmas Eve message urged people of all faiths: “Let us unitedly choose the best leader for the country in the forthcoming Jatiya Sangsad election.”
“The teachings of Jesus Christ encapsulate love towards the poor and forgiveness,” he observed.
AL president Sheikh Hasina and BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia also issued separate messages stressing religious tolerance and communal harmony.
Sheikh Hasina AL said her party was pledge-bound to safeguard the rights of all people irrespective of their faith, while Khaleda Zia noted that Bangladesh was a remarkable example of religious tolerance.
Courtesy: nation.ittefaq.com
