Muslims across the country celebrated Eid-ul-Fitr, their largest religious festival, on Friday amid religious fervour and much enthusiasm, ending the month-long fasting of Ramadan.
Hundreds of thousands of people from all socioeconomic backgrounds joined the celebrations from early morning, offering Eid payers at eidghas, mosques and open spaces across the country.
The leaders of the prayer asked for divine blessings for peace, progress and prosperity of the country and welfare of the Muslim community.
The main Eid congregation was held at the National Eidgah Maidan, adjacent to the High Court building, in the capital at 8:30am. The khatib of Baitul Mokarram National Mosque Prof Maulana Mohammad Salah Uddin conducted the Eid prayers attended by thousands of people.
The country's biggest Eid congregation was held at Sholakia Eidgah in Kishoreganj, where over 500,000 people from different parts of the country took part in prayers.
President Abdul Hamid offered Eid-ul-Fitr prayers at the National Eidgah Maidan and exchanged Eid greetings with the devotees.
Chief Justice Md Muzammel Hossain, ministers, state ministers, judges of the Supreme Court, members of parliament, senior political leaders, diplomats from different Muslim countries and high civil and military officials also offered prayers at the main Eid jamaat.
The Eid jamaat was held under the auspices of Dhaka City Corporation (DCC). Special arrangements were also made for women and foreign diplomats at the venue.
No untoward incidents were reported from anywhere during the Eid congregations, as police and the anti-crime force Rab provided tight security to the areas around the National Eidgah and all other venues.
Five massive Eid congregations were held at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque at one-hour intervals from 7am-11am.
President Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and BNP leader Khaleda Zia in separate messages greeted citizens and Muslims across the world on the occasion of Eid.
The national flag was hoisted at government, autonomous and non-government offices and all military establishments. The national flag, and flags inscribed with "Eid Mubarak," were installed at important traffic islands and light posts in Dhaka city. Also, designated government offices and military establishments were illuminated.
In Chittagong, 244 Eid congregations, including three large gatherings at MA Aziz Stadium and Jamiatul Falah Mosque, were held under the auspices of Chittagong Central Eid Jamaat Committee (CCEJC) and Chittagong City Corporation (CCC), respectively.
A large number of devotees participated in the Eid prayers.
Chittagong metropolitan and district police said Eid jamaats in the city and district were held peacefully. The authorities had taken adequate security measures by deploying Rab, Border Guard Bangladesh, police and Ansars at various points in the city.
In Rajshahi, the main Eid jamaat was held at Hazrat Shah Mukhdum Dargah Mosque at 8:30am, instead of Shah Mukhdum Central Eidgah Maidan, due to inclement weather. The muhtamim of Jameya Islamia Shahmukhdum Maulana Shahadat Ali conducted the prayers.
Senior divisional and district level officials and local elites, including Rajshahi Divisional Commissioner Helaluddin Ahmed and Deputy Commissioner Mejbah Uddin Chowdhury, offered Eid prayers at the mosque.
The second largest congregation was held at Shaheb Bazar Zero Point at 8:40am.
Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) decorated the city's important points and road islands with national flags and colourful flags inscribed with "Eid Mubarak" in both Bangla and Arabic.
According to BSS Khulna correspondent, the main congregation of was held at 8am at Town Jame Mosque.
Hundreds of devotees attended the congregation including: Joint Secretary General of Awami League and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Mahbub-ul-Alam Hanif, Khulna 2 constituency lawmaker Nazrul Islam Manzu, Mayor Moniruzzaman Mony, Khulna District Administrator Sheikh Harun-ur-Rashid, leaders of different political parties, government officials and other civil society leaders.
The second and third Eid congregations were held at 9am and 10am at the same mosque.
Other Eid congregations were held in the city's Baetun-Noor-Jame Mosque, Dawk-Bangla Jame Mosque and Baitul Aman Jame Mosque.
In Rangpur, the main congregation was held at the Central Collectorate Eidgah in the city at 9am. Divisional Commissioner Muhammad Delwar Bakht, Deputy Commissioner Farid Ahammad, Panel Mayor of Rangpur City Corporation (RCC) Abul Kashem, officials, academicians, politicians, public representatives, professionals and elite participated in the main congregation.
The RCC administration, in association with the concerned local authorities, arranged 70 Eid jamaats in the city. Law enforcement agencies employed adequate measures to ensure the peaceful holding of the congregations.
