Christmas today

The country's Christian community is celebrating the holy Christmas today commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ amid festivity and religious fervour.

They are celebrating the day by offering special prayers, illuminating churches and installing makeshift Christmas trees at homes and places of worship and missions across the country.

Elderly people of the community, attired in the outfit of Santa Claus, usually make fun with children and distribute gifts among kids as part of a universal Christian practice.

But due to Covid-19 pandemic, the day is being celebrated on a limited scale this year maintaining health safety rules.

The day is a public holiday.

President Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Opposition Leader Raushan Ershad, in separate messages, greeted members of the Christian community on the occasion.

They called upon the members of the Christian community to celebrate the holy day maintaining health rules.

In his message, the president called upon all to consolidate the long-standing tradition of religious harmony in the country.

About Jesus Christ's contribution to the society, Hamid said Jesus taught people in a peaceful position with love, compassion, forgiveness, affection, empathy and the establishment of justice.

He urged all to work unitedly to build a happy, prosperous and non-communal Bangladesh, envisioned by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Bangladesh Television, Bangladesh Betar and private TV channels will air special programmes marking the day.