Sholakia preps for Eid Jamaat after two years

After two years, the 195th Eid Jamaat is going to be held again at the historic Sholakia Eidgah. The people of Kishoreganj are overwhelmed with the feeling of being able to participate in the Eid Jamaat which is the biggest in Asia. 

The day, Eid-ul-Fitr, is approaching. Sholakia Eidgah ground is being prepared. According to the Sholakia Eidgah Management Committee, two-thirds of the preparations have already been completed. This time there will be a security zone at four levels. 

Sholakia Eidgah ground will be guarded with strict security. It is known that Eid Jamaat has been held at Sholakia ground since 1750. According to that calculation, the age of Sholakia Eidgah is 271 years. In 1828, 78 years after its establishment, in the first big congregation, 1 lakh 25 thousand, that is, ‘Sowalakh’ devotees performed Eid prayers together in this ground. From this Sowalakh, the name of this field is ‘Sowalakhia’, which has become Sholakia in the evolution of pronunciation. 

Sholakia Eidgah, a symbol of Kishoreganj's heritage, has a place in people's hearts. Shah Sufi Syed Ahmed (R.), a senior man of the local Hoybatnagar Saheb Bari, led the congregation.

This traditional Eidgah of Sholakia was established by the people of Hoybatnagar zamindar's house in Kishoreganj town. Dewan Mannan Dad Khan, the 6th descendant of Isha Khan, one of the Bara Bhuiyans of Bengal, bequeathed 4.35 acres of land for Sholakia Eidgah in 1950 according to his mother's will.

The document mentions that Eid Jamaat has been held in this ground since 1750. At present the main area of this field in Kishoreganj mouza is 6.61 acres. Surrounded by a low wall, there are a total of 265 rows at the Sholakia Eidgah ground where more than one and a half lakh devotees perform prayers together. Besides, due to lack of space in the field, the same number of devotees stood in the open space adjacent to the Eidgah, on the road and in the vicinity and participated in the largest Eid Jamaat.

Every year on the day of Eid-ul-Fitr, Sholakia Eidgah becomes the gathering place of the Muslim community. Standing in a row, they perform prayers irrespective of rich and poor. Everyone's purpose is the same, so that under no circumstances should one go without hands to participate in the congregation, the opportunity to gain nearness to God. They left Sholakia on their way home after Jamaat with the lesson of building a new society on the basis of equality and justice.

According to the district administration and the police administration, this time the congregation cannot be entered without Jainamaz and masks. Mobile phones are also banned for security reasons. On the day of Eid, two special trains named 'Sholakia Express' will run on Kishoreganj-Mymensingh and Bhairab-Kishoreganj roads to facilitate prayers at Sholakia Eidgah.

A total of 5 platoons BGB, drone camera, RAB, police and other intelligence forces will be deployed. In addition, the Watch Tower will be installed in the field and the entire field will be monitored by CCTV cameras. 

In this work, besides the uniformed police, white uniformed police will be deployed. Two units of ambulance and fire brigade will be deployed round the clock.

Eidgah Committee President and Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Shamim Alam said, this time Eid-ul-Fitr congregation will be held at 10 am. All the preparations for Sholakia Eidgah ground are almost at the final stage.

Police Super Mashrukur Rahman Khaled BPM (Bar) said, Sholakia Eidgah will be covered with security blanket. Various intelligence agencies and additional police will be deployed in the four-tier security zone to ensure smooth conduct of Eid Jamaat.