The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

The holy Eid-ul-Fitr, one of the greatest religious festivals of the Muslims, was celebrated in the city and elsewhere in the country on Thursday amid enthusiasm and with due solemnity and religious fervour and seeking divine blessings for the continued peace, progress and prosperity of the country as well as the Muslim Ummah.

To mark the day, hundreds of thousands of devotees irrespective of their social standing attended Eid congregations in different Eidgahs, mosques and open spaces throughout the country in the morning.

After the Eid prayers, the devotees embraced each other demonstrating the fraternity among the Muslims. Men, women and children attired in their best greeted each other saying, "Eid Mubarak."

Friends, relatives and neighbours visited each other's houses, exchanged greetings and shared special diets on the occasion.

The main Eid congregation in the city was held at the National Eidgah Maidan at 8:30am under the auspices of Islamic Foundation Bangladesh and Dhaka City Corporation (DCC).

President Prof Dr Iajuddin Ahmed, Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed, Speaker Barrister Jamiruddin Sircar, Chief Justice MM Ruhul Amin, Deputy Speaker Akther Hamid Siddiqui, Advisers, Dhaka City Mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka, Judges, political leaders, and people from all walks of life offered the Eid prayer there under a tight security cover.

Acting Khatib of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque Mufti Nuruddin conducted the Eid prayer seeking divine blessings for peace and progress of the country, welfare of the people and greater unity of the Muslim Ummah.

Five Eid congregations were held at the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque. Eid congregations were also held at eidgahs, mosques and open places in the city and elsewhere in the country.

The largest Eid congregation in the country was held at Sholakia in Kishoreganj district where several lakh devotees from home and abroad attended the Eid prayers.

President Prof Dr Iajuddin Ahmed and his wife Prof Dr Anwara Begum exchanged greetings with diplomats, officials and distinguished personalities at the Bangabhaban on the occasion of holy Eid-ul-Fitr.

Dean of the diplomatic corps, ambassadors and high commissioners of different countries and chiefs of international agencies attended a reception arranged for them at 9:30am.

Later, Speaker Barrister Jamiruddin Sircar, Chief Justice MM Ruhul Amin, advisers, Chief Election Commissioner Dr ATM Shamsul Huda, judges of the Supreme Court, former advisers, ministers and members of parliament, leaders of different political parties, including BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami, chiefs of three services, vice chancellors of public and private universities, educationists, secretaries, recipients of national awards, editors and senior journalists, writers, poets, litterateurs, representatives of business community, religious personalities, artistes, high civil and military officials and retired officials attended another reception.

Dr Iajuddin Ahmed and Prof Anwara Begum welcomed the guests at the Bangabhaban and exchanged greetings with the guests and wished them a happy future.

Secretary of the President's Office Md Sirajul Islam, Military Secretary to the President Major General Mohammad Ruhul Amin and the President's Press Secretary Abdul Awal Hawlader were present on the occasion.

The Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed hosted separate Eid reception for foreign diplomats and people from all walks of life from 10:30am to about 12:30pm.

He said necessary amendments were made to the electoral laws following the Election Commission's consultation with political parties, journalist community and civil society.

The Chief Adviser said preparations for holding the election are at the final stage, and the election date has already been announced.

He conveyed greetings of Eid-ul-Fitr to the countrymen and wished all of the citizens a peaceful, prosperous and beautiful Bangladesh and their good health.

Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed and his spouse Neena Ahmed exchanged Eid greetings and pleasantries with the guests.

Speaker Barrister Jamiruddin Sircar, Advisers, Special Assistants, politicians, including leaders of BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, and JAGPA, diplomats, chiefs of three services of the Armed Forces, people from different professions and senior civil and military officials attended the

reception.

Advisers of the caretaker government, chiefs of three services, diplomats, professionals, high civil and military officials and elite people of society met with the Chief Adviser and exchanged greetings.

Under a government-announced programme, the National flag was hoisted atop public and private buildings on the Eid day.

The main thoroughfares starting from Dhaka Gate at Banani to Bangabhaban and the road islands were decorated with the national flag and banners inscribed with 'Eid Mubarak' in Bengali and Arabic.

On the occasion, the Muslims treated their guests to sweets and pilau-meat. Improved diets were served at different hospitals, jails, government children homes, vagrant welfare centres and homes for the distressed persons.

The government announced holidays from Wednesday to Friday to mark the day. Newspapers brought special supplements while TV channels broadcast special programmes on the occasion. Newspaper offices were closed till Friday.

Our correspondents from different districts, including, Chittagong, Rajshahi, Khulna, Barisal and Sylhet reported that people of those areas celebrated the holy Eid-ul-Fitr amid enthusiasm and with due solemnity.

However, morning rain and drizzle marred Eid congregations at different places.

Meanwhile, DhakaBashi, a social organisation of the city, brought out a traditional and colourful rally in the city on Friday, the following day of the holy Eid-ul-Fitr, conveying the Eid greetings to city dwellers.