EID FESTIVITIES IN FRAME

Eid-ul-Fitr, one of the two largest religious festivals of the Muslims, was celebrated amid much enthusiasm and religious fervour all over the country on Monday.

The main thoroughfares of the capital were decorated with the national flag and banners inscribed with "Eid Mubarak" in Bangla and Arabic. Public buildings were illuminated on the occasion.

Improved diets were served at hospitals, prisons and children homes and vagrant welfare centres run by the government. State-run Bangladesh Television, Bangladesh Betar and private television channels and radio stations aired special programmes, reports UNB.

President Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia issued separate messages greeting the people on the occasion.

The country's largest Eid congregation was held at Sholakia Eidgah in Kishoreganj at 10:00am amid tight security.

The main Eid congregation in the capital was held at the Jatiya Eidgah at 8:30am while five congregations were held at the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque from 7:00am till 10:45am.

President Abdul Hamid, members of the cabinet, members of the parliament, judges of the Supreme Court, senior politicians, civil and military high officials joined hundreds during the Eid prayer at Jatiya Eidgah.

In his message, the president said after a month-long observance of Ramadan, the Eid-ul-Fitr brings messages of pure joy and pleasure for the mankind.

"Eid builds ties of harmony, amity and unity among people of all classes and professions," said the president.

In her message, Prime Minister Hasina said, "Eid teaches us about peace, sympathy and brotherhood."

Different law enforcement agencies including police and Rapid Action Battalion took enhanced security measures across the country on the occasion to avert any untoward incident.

PEACEFUL EID CONGREGATION AT SHOLAKIA

The 190th Eid congregation at the historic ground at Sholakia began at 10:00am with customary gunfire.

An estimated two lakh people from different parts of the country gathered there to take part in the largest Eid congregation of the country.

Eminent Islamic scholar Maulana Fariduddin Masoud conducted the prayers and offered a special munazat, seeking divine blessings for peace, development and welfare of the countrymen as well as the Muslim Ummah.

Against the backdrop of last year's militant attack near the Eidgah premises, the government this year took additional security measures around the Eidgah, reports our Kishoreganj correspondent.

Devotees were only allowed to bring in their Janamaz (prayer mat) at the ground and they were searched in four phases as part of heightened security.

Meanwhile, a large number of Muslims in four districts of Barisal division, Narayanganj and Lalmonirhat districts celebrated Eid-ul-Fitr on Sunday in accordance with Saudi Arabia.

In Barisal division, over 50,000 people from 12,000 families -- mainly followers of Kaderia, Jahangiria, Chistia Tarika, Pir of Elahabad Sufia Darbar Sharif and Pir Shaheb of Mariachi Darbar Sharif of Satkania -- celebrated Eid on Sunday in accordance with Saudi Arabia, reports our Barisal correspondent.

At least 500 Muslim families in three villages of Kaliganj upazila in Lalmonirhat celebrated Eid on Sunday, reports our Lalmonirhat correspondent.

Also, over 200 followers of Hanafi sect celebrated Eid-ul-Fitr in Fatullah of Narayanganj on Sunday, reports our Narayanganj correspondent.