Eid-ul-Fitr celebrated countrywide with maintaining health guidelines

The holy Eid-ul-Fitr, the biggest religious festival of the Muslims, was celebrated across the country Friday with maintaining health guidelines and social distancing in view of the coronavirus pandemic. With due solemnity, fervor and gaiety, the festival was celebrated on the first day of Shawwal in Hijri calendar today as Ramadan, the holy month of keeping fasting, ended on Thursday.

President M Abdul Hamid along with his family members and some senior government officials offered Eid-ul-Fitr’s prayers at Darbar hall of Bangabhaban here at 10.30 am, President’s press secretary Joynal Abedin told BSS.

A special munajat was offered seeking divine blessings for peace and progress of Bangladesh and welfare of the people as well as the Muslim Ummah. A total of five Eid jamaats were held at the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque today like every year.

The first Eid jamaat was held at 7 am followed by other four congregations at the same venue to help the devotees perform Eid prayers maintaining the social distancing and health guidelines properly.

The second, third, fourth and fifth Jamaats were held at 8 am, 9 am, 10 am and 10.45 am respectively while separate Imams of the national mosque conducted those.

Following the eid-jamaats, special doa was also offered seeking eternal peace of the departed souls of those who died of deadly Covid-19 and also wishing for early recovery of the Covid-19 infected patients throughout the country as well as across the globe.

In line with the government directives, Dhaka north and south city corporations decided not to hold any Eid jamaat (congregation) on open spaces, including at the National Eidgah on the High Court premises,in the capital.

Besides, the historic Eid jamaat at the Sholakia Maidan in Kishoreganj has also been cancelled this year amid the COVID-19 situation. This year the festival came at a time when the entire world is reeling under the spike of the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Bangladesh government imposed strict restrictions on all social gatherings and urged devotees to celebrate the Eid with only family members indoors instead of visiting relatives’ houses avoiding gatherings in the wake of the global COVID-19 pandemic.

President M Abdul Hamid today urged all to try their best to stand by the helpless and endangered people around us as the Eid-ul-Fitr teaches us self-purification and self-control.

“Stand by the helpless and endangered people around us,” he said while he delivered his speech, greeting the countrymen on the occasion of the holy Eid-ul-Fitr at Bangabhaban Durbar Hall here.

The President also advised all citizens to follow the complete health rules, including wearing mask, washing hands regularly and maintaining social distancing on this joyous Eid occasion. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina addressed the nation on Thursday.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today greeted all the Freedom Fighters (FFs) of the country on Eid-ul-Fitr.

Like the previous occasions, the Prime Minister sent flowers, fruits and sweetmeats to the war-wounded FFs and members of the martyred families at Martyred and War-wounded Freedom Fighters’ Rehabilitation Centre (Muktijoddha Tower-1) on Gaznavi Road in the capital’s Mohammadpur as a mark of her good wishes for them.

On behalf of the Prime Minister, her Assistant Private Secretary-2 Gazi Hafizur Rahman Liku, Deputy Press Secretary Hasan Jahid Tusher and Assistant Press Secretary ABM Sarwer-e-Alom Sarker handed over these items to them in the morning.

The law enforcement agencies have tightened security measurers across the country including the capital Dhaka for ensuring peaceful celebration of the holy Eid-ul-Fitr likewise the previous years.

The special security measures will be continued till third day of the Eid celebration.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) sources said as thousands of people left Dhaka ahead of the Eid-ul-Fitr, police members are patrolling in the city to avert any kind of criminal activities including theft, robbery and snatching.

Apart from police personnel of local police station, members of Detective Branch (DB) are also deployed in different localities and alleyways for surveillance, DMP’s media and public relations wing ADC Md Iftekhairul Islam told BSS.

He said police members are discharging their duties both in uniforms and plainclothes. Elite force Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) also took adequate security measures for peaceful holding of Eid congregations at mosques.

RAB’s Legal and Media Wing Director Commander Khandaker Al Moin said RAB takes special security measures centering Eid celebration and the force is monitoring the security measures across the country.

RAB’s special patrolling and check-post will be kept continued at key points in the capital till end of the Eid vacation while intelligence agencies are also carrying out surveillance in the city.