Bangladesh to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr Monday

The holy Eid-ul-Fitr, one of the biggest religious festivals of Muslims, will be celebrated in Bangladesh on Monday as the moon of Shawwal month of 1446 Hijri was sighted in the country’s sky on Sunday evening.

“The moon of Holy Shawwal month of 1446 Hijri was sighted in the sky of the country today ... The holy Eid-ul-Fitr will be celebrated on Monday,” Religious Affairs Adviser AFM Khalid Hossain told reporters after a meeting of the National Moon Sighting Committee.

The meeting was held at the Islamic Foundation at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque in Dhaka this evening with the adviser in the chair.

Meanwhile, Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus greeted the countrymen as well as Muslims across the world on the occasion of the holy Eid-ul-Fitr, reports BSS.

The main jamaat of the Eid-ul-Fitr will be held at the National Eidgah on the High Court premises at 8:30am. If the congregation cannot be held due to inclement weather or any other unavoidable reason, it will be held at 9am at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque.

Besides, five Eid jamaats will be held at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque on the day of Eid-ul-Fitr.

The first Eid jamaat will be held at 7am. The second will take place at 8am, while the third one at 9am and the fourth one at 10am. The last Eid jamaat will be held at 10:45am.

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus will offer the Eid prayers along with hundreds of devotees at the National Eidgah.

The country's noted personalities, including chief justice, Advisory Council members, judges of the Supreme Court, senior political leaders and high-level civil and military officials will also say their prayers there.

Prof Yunus will exchange Eid greetings with dignitaries and people from different walks of life at the Chief Adviser's Office in Tejgaon at 4pm, CA's Deputy Press Secretary Abdul Kalam Azad Majumder told BSS.

Another Eid jamaat will be held on the premises of the old venue of Dhaka International Trade Fair in the city's Agargaon for the first time this year. A Mughal-style colourful procession will be brought out after the prayers.

In Kishoreganj, Sholakia Eidgah will host the Eid-ul-Fitr jamaat at 10am. The district administration has stepped up security in and around the venue to facilitate the devotees to offer their Eid prayers hassle-free.

In Dinajpur, the largest Eid congregation in the country will be held at Gor-e-Shahid Boro Eidgah at 8:30am. The district administration has made extensive preparations to hold the congregation peacefully.

Meanwhile, Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said the law enforcement agencies are ready to tackle any situation on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr. He reiterated that there was no apprehension of sabotage or attack.

Eid-ul-Fitr is an Arabic word meaning "festival of breaking of the fast".

The festival marks the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. Muslims abstain from eating and drinking from dawn to dusk during the holy month.

On the Eid day morning, usually, devotees gather at mosques and prayer venues to perform Eid prayers and greet each other.

The festival is celebrated by visiting residences of friends and relatives, hosting food parties and sharing sweets.

Children not only get new clothes and shoes, but also receive cash gifts called "Salami" from their elders, relatives, and well-wishers.

The occasion is seen as a time of forgiveness and giving thanks to Allah for helping people to complete their month-long spiritual fasting.

Many Muslims distribute cash and food to the less fortunate ones.

However, tens of thousands of people have already left the capital to celebrate the festival with their near and dear ones at their village homes.

The nine-day Eid vacation began on Friday as the five-day public holiday was merged with two weekends and a one-day holiday on an executive order.

Marking the festival, television channels and radio stations will air special programmes.

Besides, special meals will be served at hospitals, jails, government children’s homes (Chotomoni Nibash), centres for persons with disabilities, shelter homes, orphanages and vagrant and destitute welfare centres.

Meanwhile, several villages in Chandpur, Faridpur, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Chattogram, Jhenaidah, and Bhola celebrated Eid on Sunday, aligning with Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern countries.