Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)– Eid-ul-Fitr, the biggest religious festival of the Muslims, was celebrated in Bangladesh on Monday amid gaiety, feasting, family reunions and boisterous festivities.
The day’s program began with offering Eid prayers by millions of Muslims who thronged at mosques and eidgahs braving light rains in the capital
After a month-long fasting, Muslims sought divine blessings, peace, progress and prosperity in their Eid congregations throughout the country.
The main Eid jamaat (congregation) of holy Eid-ul-Fitr was held at National Eidgah on the city’s High Court premises at 8:30am.
The Eid congregation was also held at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque in the capital Dhaka.
Two Eid congregations were also held at the Dhaka University playground and south plaza of Jatiya Sangsad.
Besides, Dhaka South City Corporation and Dhaka North City Corporation arranged 361 Eid congregations in 90 wards of the capital.
President Zillur Rahman offered his Eid prayers along with hundreds of people from different walks of life on the National Eidgah.
The chief justice, several ministers, state ministers, judges of the Supreme Court, senior political leaders, diplomats of different Muslim countries and high civil and military officials offered prayers at the main Eid jamaat.
Khatib of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque Professor Moulana Muhammad Salahuddin conducted the Eid prayers.
A special munajat was offered seeking divine blessings for peace and development of the country, welfare of the people and greater unity of the Muslim Ummah.
 
Although Eid-ul-Fitr was officially celebrated in the country on Monday, Muslims of 140 villages in several districts celebrated Eid on Sunday in conformity with Saudi Arabia.
Claiming themselves as followers of Quaderia Tarika, they started Ramadan fasting a day before the start of that in Bangladesh in line with the sighting of the Ramadan moon in Saudi Arabia.
 
President Zillur Rahman and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in separate messages have greeted the countrymen and the Muslim ummah on the occasion.
Special diets were served in hospitals, jails, government-owned children and shelter homes, socially handicapped and vagabond welfare centres and shelter homes for the destitute.
Bangladesh Betar and Bangladesh Television as well as private television channels and radio stations have been broadcasting special programs on this occasion.
   
BBN/SSR/AD-21Aug12-11:40 am (BST)