Muslims in Bangladesh are celebrating their biggest religious festival Eid-ul-Fitr amid religious fervor and enthusiasm after a month of fasting.
Eid has always been a time of forgiveness and praising Allah, for helping devotes complete their month-long spiritual fasting and celebrated by families gathering together.
But this year, like the previous year, Eid-ul-Fitr is being celebrated without any outdoor program and Eid congregations at Eidgah grounds across the country on Friday as most Muslim majority countries, including Bangladesh, around the world have called on their citizens to limit their movement and face to face contact during this year's celebrations.
No Eid jamaat (congregation) was held at the National Eidgah Maidan this year due to the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.
However, the first and second Eid congregations was held at 7am and 8am at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque. The next three jamaats are slated for 9am, 10am, and 10:45am.
President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina greeted the nation in separate messages on the occasion of holy Eid-ul-Fitr.
The government has urged people to avoid Eidgah or other open places for Eid congregations and offer prayers at local mosques maintaining health guidelines.
The Ministry of Religious Affairs issued an emergency circular recently saying: “Although the Islamic Sharia encourages offering Eid prayer at Eidgah or open places, the devotees are now requested to offer their prayers at nearby mosques due to the Coronavirus situation.”
It also suggested disinfecting mosques before Eid prayers and advised against rolling out carpets on the floors.
The devotees have been urged to bring prayer mats from home. Other than that, arrangements should be made at entrances of the mosques for washing hands, the notification added.
The devotees must wear masks inside mosques and avoid using prayer mats and caps that were stored there.
Children, elderly people, people with physical ailments, and those taking care of the sick should not be allowed to attend jamaats.
Apart from these, the devotees have been requested to avoid shaking hands and the customary hugging after the prayers.
With the risk of virus infections, thousands of people have already left the capital to celebrate Eid with their near and dear ones at their native homes.
The main city streets and road islands have been decorated with the national flag and banners inscribed with “Eid Mubarak” in both Bangla and Arabic.
Television channels and radio stations are telecasting special programs marking the occasion.
Special diets are being served in hospitals, jails, government children’s homes, Chhotomoni Nibash, centres for persons with disabilities, shelter homes, orphanages, vagrant welfare and destitute welfare centres.
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