Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)-Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)- Eid-ul-Fitr, the biggest religious festival of the Muslims, will be celebrated in Bangladesh on Saturday as the crescent moon heralding the month of Shawal has been sighted in the country’s northern Joypurhat district on Friday.
The National Moon Sighting Committee took the decision at a meeting at the Islamic Foundation’s Baitul Mukarram office in the evening after reviewing the information of the moon sighting.
At a post-meeting briefing, Religious Affairs Minister Principal Motiur Rahman told reporters that Eid-ul-Fitr will be celebrated across the country on Saturday as the Shawal moon was seen in the evening.
Religious Affairs Secretary Chowdhury Md Babul Hasan and director general of the Islamic Foundation Shamim Mohammad Afzal were, among others, present at the meeting.
The Muslims will offer Eid prayers seeking divine blessings and eternal peace, progress and prosperity of the people.
Under the supervision of Dhaka South City Corporation and Dhaka North City Corporation, 379 congregations would be held at 93 wards throughout the capital this year.
The main Eid Jamaat will be held at the Jatiya Eidgah, adjacent to the High Court Mazar, at 8:30am.
Besides, five Eid Jamaats will be held at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque like previous years.
The first Eid Jamaat will be held at 7:00am, the second Jamaat at 8:00am, third Jamaat at 9:00am, fourth jamaat at 10:00am and the fifth Jamaat at 11:00am. Pesh Imam of the mosque Hafez Mufti Muhibullah Baki Nadvi will conduct the first Jamaat.
Another Eid Jamaat will be held at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban at 8:00am.
Cabinet members, Deputy Speaker, whips of Jatiya Sangsad, Parliament members, officials and employees of parliament secretariat will participate in the Jamaat.
Under the supervision of two city corporations, four congregations in each ward will be held at mosques, field and Eidgah. Some 228 congregations will be held in South City Corporation and 151 in North City Corporation, according to the officials.
Two Eid Jamaat will be organised at Dhaka University central mosque. First Jamaat would be held at 8:00 am which would be conducted by Imam of the mosque Dr Syed Muhammad Emdad Uddin while second one at 9:00 am which will be conducted by Hafez Uasad Ahmed.
Besides, two Eid congregations would be taken place at SM Hall and Shahidullah Hall of the university at 8:00am.
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University will organise Eid Jamaat at 8:00am at its central mosque.
Socio-religious organisations have, meanwhile, made separate arrangements for Eid congregations in different neighbourhoods in the city.
Bangladesh’s largest Eid congregation will take place at Sholakhia in Kishoreganj.
Tight security measures have been taken to ensure smooth holding of eid congregations throughout the country.
The national flag will be hoisted atop government and non-government office buildings on the day. The main city streets and road islands will be decorated with the national flag and banners inscribed with ‘Eid Mubarak’ in both Bangla and Arabic.
Special diet will be served in hospitals, jails, government children homes, university halls, Chotomoni Nibash, centres for persons with disabilities, shelter homes, orphanages, vagrant welfare and destitute welfare centres.
Meanwhile, President Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia have issued separate messages greeting people on the occasion.
President Abdul Hamid will host a reception at Bangabhaban at 10:00 am on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will exchange eid greetings with people from all walks of life on the eid day at her official residence, Gonobhaban, from 9:30 am to 11:00am.
BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia will exchange greetings with eminent citizens and diplomats at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) on the eid day in the city from 11:30am to 1:15pm.
The government has taken elaborate programmes to facilitate the eid celebrations across the country with due solemnity and religious fervour.
A three-day government holiday already began Friday on the occasion. Newspapers will remain closed from July 17 to 19.
Bangladesh Betar, Bangladesh Television and private television channels will air special programmes and newspapers will carry special supplements to mark the occasion.
Update:BBN/SSR/AD
