Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN) – The Eid-ul-Fitr, the biggest religious festival of the Muslims, was celebrated across the country on Monday with due religious fervour and solemnity amid thunder and showers.

The first Eid congregation in the capital, Dhaka was held at 8:00am (local time) at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque. Four more took place at the national mosque till 12noon.

The major Eid congregation of the city, however, was held at the Jatiya Eidgah Maidan at the High Court premises at 9:00am (local time) where President Zillur Rahman, Chief Justice MM Ruhul Amin, Speaker Abdul Hamid, Deputy Speaker Shawkat Ali, ministers and members of parliament, government high-ups, political leaders, diplomats of different Muslim countries and other prominent people were present.

The largest Eid congregation of the country was held at Solakia Eidgah under Kishoreganj district. Though morning rains caused some inconveniences for Muslim devotees at some places, it did not affect the mirth and joy of the Eid, witnesses said.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department recorded 39 millimeter of rainfall in the capital, Dhaka between 8:00 am and midday.

The president, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chief Begum Khaleda Zia earlier issued separate statements felicitating the countrymen and the Muslims across the world on the occasion.

The national flag is being kept hoisted atop government and non-government offices on the occasion. Main city streets were also decorated with flags imprinted with ‘Eid Mubarak’ in Bengali and Arabic.

Special diets are being served in hospitals, jails, government-owned children and shelter homes, socially handicapped and vagabond welfare centres and shelter homes for the destitute.

Security measures also tightened in and around the capital, officials confirmed.

BBN/SS/SI/AD-22September09-12:46 am (BST)