The New Nation - Internet Edition

Alam Sarwar Titu, Kishoreganj

The biggest ever eid jamat was held at the historical Sholakia Eidgah ground in Kishorganj district on Thursday last where more than 3.5 lakh people thronged in the largest congregation of the country.

This is for the 181st time the eid jamat was held in this ground, which owes its beginning in 1827.

The eid jamat was held at 10 o’clock in the morning. Noted Islamic thinker and Khatib of Barabazar Jam-e-Mosque Mufti Abul Khayer Mohammad Syfullah led the namaz.

Acting General Secretary of Bangladesh Awami League Syed Ashraful Islam, former Law Minister Justice Habibul Islam Bhuiyan, Kishoreganj district BNP general secretary Wali Ullah Rabbani, district Jamaat Ameer maulana Principal Tayebuzzaman, Deputy Commissioner ASM Mahbubul Alam and local elite were among the participants of the eid jamat.

Witnesses said Muslim devotees in thousands joined the congregation from far and near and filled the vast Eidgah by 9am, reciting holy verses. The congregation spilled over to adjacent roads, and pavements as the big bowl of the traditional Eidgah was filled to the capacity with devotees much ahead of the namaj.

As per tradition, six shots from shotguns were first fired before 15 minutes, then for the second time before 10 minutes and for the third and last time before five minutes of the eid-prayer.

Many devotees came 2-3 days ahead and resided either in hotels or relatives’ houses to attend the jamat. Many came by train and bus on the Eid day.

Two oldest devotees were Lilu Mia (80) of Bajitpur and Akram Hossain (90) from Bhaluka of Mymensingh. They have attended the jamat at Sholakia for last 55 years. They believe that if one offers prayers for three consecutive years here, one acquires the “swab” of hajj.

Ismail Showdagor (29) came to Sholakia to say eid prayer after 10 hours of bi-cycle riding. He said praying with hundreds of thousands of people one can acquire extra swab of blessing.

Witnesses said Sholakia wore a festive look on the eve of eid jamat. Many welcoming arches were erected and roads decorated with colourful banners and buntings.

Member Secretery of Eidgah Managemnt committee Mahbubul Huq Jhunu informed newsmen that more than 3.5 lakh devotees thronged the ground this time. The Kishorganj Chamber of Commerce and Industry took necessary arrangements for the devotees who came ahead of the eid day.