Eid-ul-Fitr
President offers Eid prayers at Bangabhaban
Bangladesh President Abdul Hamid on Friday morning offered Eid-ul-Fitr prayers at Bangabhaban Darbar Hall instead of National Eidgah.
In the wake of the second outbreak of Covid-19, the traditional Eid prayers in the capital's National Eidgah Maidan were cancelled this year too.
President's press secretary Joynal Abedin told UNB that the head-of-state chose to offer prayers at Bangabhaban Darbar Hall in view of the pandemic.
The press secretary also said that a special munajat was offered seeking divine blessings for the peace and progress of Bangladesh.
The Eid jamaat (congregation) was held at 10 am. Pesh Imam of Bangabhaban Jame Mosque Mufti Maulana Saiful Kabir led the Eid prayers, Joynal said.
Also read: President wishes citizens on occasion of Eid
Members of the President's family and senior officials of Bangabhaban also offered Eid prayers along with him, following all Covid safety protocols.
Eid greetings exchange was not allowed this year due to the pandemic. The President's speech congratulating the nation on the occasion of Eid was aired on Bangladeshi TV channels.
Hasina greets Freedom Fighters on Eid
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday greeted all the Freedom Fighters (FFs) of the country on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr.
Like other occasions, the Prime Minister sent flowers, fruits and sweetmeats to the war-wounded Freedom Fighters and members of the martyred families at Martyred and War-wounded Freedom Fighters’ Rehabilitation Centre (Muktijoddha Tower-1) at Gaznavi Road in the capital’s Mohammadpur area as a mark of her good wishes for them.
PM’s Assistant Private Secretary-2 Gazi Hafizur Rahman Liku, Deputy Press Secretary Hasan Jahid Tusher and Assistant Press Secretary ABM Sarwar-e-Alam Sarkar handed over these items to them in the morning.
The war-wounded FFs and members of the martyred families expressed their gratitude to the Prime Minister for remembering them on every national day and festivals like Independence Day, Victory Day, Eid and Pahela Baishakh.
Also read: Another Eid under the shadow of Covid-19 pandemic
They also expressed firm commitment to resist any act of terror in the name of religion and anti-state activities on the soil of independent Bangladesh at any cost.
They hoped that the successors of the Freedom Fighters and future generations would uphold this spirit.
They wished the Prime Minister good health and long life, and highly appreciated her farsighted leadership.
Another Eid celebrated with prayers in masks
Muslims across Bangladesh celebrated another muted Eid-ul-Fitr Friday without shaking hands and hugging each other thrice after the special prayers amid a host of health protocols put in place during the holiday.
Eid means unbound joy, but once again the Muslims had to hold back the feeling before and after Eid prayers as health restrictions did not allow for the traditional exchange of hugs (kolakoli) among fellow devotees.
Celebration robbed of by pandemic
This is the second consecutive year that Muslims celebrated their largest religious festival under coronavirus restrictions that cast shadows over the festival's mass gatherings and family reunions.
From Indonesia to Bangladesh, governments have imposed restrictions to contain the spread of the virus during Eid, which marks the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.
Many Covid-hit countries, including Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, Malaysia and Indonesia, imposed curbs, shut shops and even some mosques.
Muted festival
Like the previous year, this year's Eid in Bangladesh was celebrated without any outdoor programme as the government imposed restrictions on all social gatherings and urged the devotees to celebrate the festival with only family members indoors instead of visiting relatives' houses and outings in the wake of the pandemic.
The religious affairs ministry called for the devotees to pray at their nearest mosques instead of the Eidgah and open spaces.
Following the directives, no Eid congregation was held at open spaces, including at the National Eidgah on the High Court premises in the capital this year as the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic still prevails.
Also, the historic Eid congregation in Kishoreganj's Sholakia Maidan was called off like the previous year.
Most devotees offered Eid prayers at local mosques throughout the country as advised by the ministry, maintaining health guidelines.
In the capital, people performed Eid prayers in phases. Five Eid congregations were held at the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque in Dhaka – the first one at 7am while the next four at 8am, 9am, 10am, and 10:45am.
Long queues of Muslims were seen since Friday morning in front of the capital's many mosques including Baitul Mukarram National Mosque.
Earlier, the ministry requested devotees to avoid shaking hands and the customary hugging after the prayers.
In line with that, people were seen attending the congregations wearing masks and leaving Eid prayer venues without a traditional shake of hands with one another or exchange of embraces.
Meanwhile, President Md Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina greeted the nation in separate messages on the occasion of holy Eid-ul-Fitr. Sheikh Hasina on Thursday urged everyone to remain alert so that the celebrations of the festival do not cause coronavirus cases to spike.
No Eid greetings exchange at Bangabhaban
Bangladesh President Abdul Hamid Friday morning offered Eid-ul-Fitr prayers at Bangabhaban Darbar Hall instead of National Eidgah. Members of the president's family and senior officials of Bangabhaban also offered Eid prayers along with him, following all Covid safety protocols. Eid greetings exchange was not allowed this year due to the pandemic.
Sharing joy
Television channels and radio stations are telecasting special programmes marking the occasion.
Special diets were served in hospitals, jails, government children's homes, centres for persons with disabilities, shelter homes, orphanages, vagrant welfare and destitute welfare centres.
The prime minister sent flowers, fruits and sweetmeats to the war-wounded freedom fighters and members of the martyred families at Martyred and War-wounded Freedom Fighters' Rehabilitation Centre in the capital's Mohammadpur as a mark of her good wishes for them.
'No eid joy for BNP over a decade'
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir Friday said their party leaders and activists have not been able to feel the joy of Eid for a decade as they have been subjected to killing, enforced disappearance and other repressive acts.
"Eid-ul-Fitr is being celebrated today (Friday) through lots of hardship and hard times. On one hand, there's a dangerous outbreak of Covid and there're serious repressive acts by the fascist government," he said.
The BNP leader said, "To be honest, we don’t have the joy of eid. Because our leaders and activists have been killed and implicated in false cases. At least our 35 lakh leaders and workers have been made accused (in different cases). Eid never comes to the families of those who are accused of false charges."
Covid death toll hits 12,102
Bangladesh lost 26 more lives to Covid-19, including nine in Dhaka and seven in Chattogram divisions, in the past 24 hours until Friday morning as Eid celebrations were underway with a dampened spirit due to the pandemic.
The latest number – lowest in 51 days – took the country's Covid-related death count to 12,102 as it celebrated another Eid-ul-Fitr with masks and prayers.
Bangladesh also confirmed 779,535 Covid-19 cases with 848 people coming out positive in 7,835 tests over the same period.
Another lockdown extension looms
The nationwide lockdown, imposed on April 5 to break the chain of Covid-19 infections and fatalities, has been extended several times to limit public movement or contain the surge in daily infections.
The ongoing lockdown, set to end on May 16, is likely to be extended by yet another week to keep close tabs on the situation as a mass exodus from the cities before Eid-ul-Fitr has stoked fears of a third wave of infections.
The lockdown measures fell flat as tens of thousands of people left Dhaka and other cities to join their families in home villages to celebrate Eid, despite stark warnings that the exodus could worsen the country's coronavirus outbreak.
The country's health authorities expressed concerns that the mass travel will spread the coronavirus and reverse a recent hard-won decline in cases following weeks of nationwide lockdown.
At least five people died and 50 others injured Wednesday in a stampede as thousands of people returned to their native villages from Dhaka and other cities for Eid-ul-Fitr, defying Covid-19 restrictions.
Also read: Don’t let Covid to spike with unguarded Eid celebrations: PM Hasina
bKash gives food aid to 5,000 Covid-hit families
bKash has recently provided food aid worth Tk35 lakh to 5,000 Covid-hit families ahead of Eid.
The relief will be distributed among the needy under the supervision of Sena Kalyan Sangstha.
bKash Chief Executive Officer Kamal Quadir handed over the food aid to Air Commodore M Moyeenuddin, director general (welfare) of Sena Kalyan Sangstha, Wednesday in the capital.
Under the food aid, each family will receive 5kg rice, 1kg pulse, 1kg salt, 1-litre oil, 1kg sugar, half kg of vermicelli (semai), and two bars of soap. This food aid package is expected to help a family of four to survive for 10 days at least.
Also read: 7 lakh bKash customers donate Tk20 crore to 50 organisations
Last year in May, bKash also provided food aid Tk35 lakh to 5,000 Covid-affected families, read a press release.
President wishes citizens on occasion of Eid
President Abdul Hamid has greeted the people on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr, set to be celebrated Friday.
In a congratulatory message, President called upon all to observe Eid in accordance with the proper health guidelines.
Eid-ul-Fitr, the largest religious festival of Muslims, will be celebrated in the country Friday as the Shawwal moon was not sighted in Bangladesh Wednesday evening.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the National Moon Sighting Committee with the state minister Faridul Haque Khan in the chair after reviewing the information of Shawwal moon sighting.
Also read: President Abdul Hamid to receive coronavirus vaccine tomorrow
The President will offer Eid-ul-Fitr prayer at the Darbar Hall of Bangabhaban at 10 am instead of National Eidgah.
Members of the President's family and senior officials of Bangabhaban will participate in the Eid prayers with him in a limited manner as per the health rules.
Eid greetings exchange program at Bangabhaban, a traditional event on Eid, will not be held this year due to Corona situation.
Also read: President Abdul Hamid wants closer ties with Canada
He will also deliver a welcome speech to the nation through Bangladesh Television after offering prayer.
Don’t let Covid to spike with unguarded Eid celebrations: PM Hasina
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday urged the people of the country to remain careful so that the celebrations of Eid-ul-Fitr do not invite Coronavirus cases to spike.“My request to people, please don’t go to your kith and kin out of emotion (to celebrate Eid), as many don't even have any symptoms (of infections). You never know one beside you is carrying coronavirus. By this (getting close), you’re also falling at the risk of getting infected in addition to putting your close relatives and neighbours at risk,” she said.
The Prime Minister said this while addressing the nation on the eve of Holy Eid-ul-Fitr.
State-run Bangladesh Betar and Bangladesh Television simultaneously broadcast the Prime Minister’s address. Private television channels and radio stations also aired the 16-minute speech.
Sheikh Hasina urged all to keep in mind that the lives of people come first. “If [we] survive all will celebrate Eid next year in a befitting manner.”
Like the previous year, she said, the government has imposed a ban on holding Eid Jamaats at Eidgahs and requested all to perform Eid Jamaat at mosques, maintaining social distancing and health guidelines.
She asked all to enjoy the holy Eid-ul-Fitr staying at the places where they are and requested the affluent section of society to stand beside their poor neighbours and villagers.
“Extend your supporting hands to them. Your assistance might help bring a smile to the face of a family… it’s the biggest responsibility to stand beside people as human beings. We must not forget that responsibility,” she said.
Also read: PM to address nation Thursday evening
Talking about the Covid-19 vaccination programme, the Prime Minister said the government has started the inoculation drive with the most effective and scrutinised AstraZeneca.
“You know that Indian authorities have imposed a temporary ban on vaccine export. As a result, there have been some problems in the supply system,” she said.
The Prime Minister said the government has taken a move to collect vaccines from alternative sources and talks underway with the vaccine producers of Russian and China, while vaccine doses from China arrived as a gift.
She said the government has requested the USA for providing vaccine shots, and Bangladesh will get an adequate amount of vaccine doses from Covax.
“We’ve taken steps to procure one crore vaccine doses from different sources and those will start reaching the country very soon,” she said.
Besides, Hasina mentioned, the government has taken initiatives to produce more vaccines and it will take a few months. “We’ll bring all the citizens of the country under the vaccination drive, Inshallah.”
The Prime Minister said Covid-19 has badly affected the country’s health system and economy.
When the virus infection rate started showing a downtrend at the end of the last year, the people of the country along with others elsewhere across the globe had bene hopeful that the world would get rid of this deadly virus, she said, adding: “But the second wave has destroyed all our planning and aspirations from mid-March.”
As this virus spreads through human beings, it will not be possible to control it without avoiding crowds, the Prime Minister said.That is why, she said, the government was forced to impose a ban on people’s normal movement despite knowing it will cause suffering to them.
Also read: PM denounces attacks at Al Aqsa mosque compound
“Shops, shopping malls and business houses are open, maintaining health guidelines. For the same reason, restrictions have been imposed on the operation of public transport services,” she said.
Hasina said the Eid-ul-Fitr has to be observed this time under an uncomfortable situation again. “We’ll celebrate Eid, but will also maintain the health guidelines.”
The Prime Minister highly appreciated doctors, nurses and health workers for their services to Covid-19 patients knowing their personal risks.
She also lauded the members of the law-enforcement agencies, armed forces and administration for playing important active roles in enforcing the lockdown and distributing relief materials.
The Prime Minister thanked and greeted journalists for presenting and publishing news defying the risk of infections.
The Prime Minister briefly described various initiatives of the government to provide treatment for the coronavirus-infected people apart from taking all-out measures to resist coronavirus infections.
She laid emphasis on using masks, washing hands regularly with soap or sanitising hands to keep one free from coronavirus infection.
Hasina said the deadly coronavirus is not only taking lives but it is also destroying the world economy.
To avoid infections, she said, the government has enforced a lockdown from April 5, causing a blow to the livelihoods of people. “But there was no option other than taking this tough measure,” she said.
Hasina said that all must keep in mind that the health infrastructure of every country has its own limited capability.
If the number of patients increases suddenly, it becomes impossible to provide medical services, she said adding, “You saw even the developed countries are facing trouble to provide services to the patient, for that the number of patients must not be allowed to increase.”
The Prime Minister said the government is trying to strike a balance between lives and livelihoods.
She mentioned various government stimulus packages and assistance programmes, including cash support of the government to various sections of people during the pandemic.
“When we were about to make a turnaround in our economic condition, the second wave struck us in March. As a result, there might be some sort of slowdown in our desired growth,” she apprehended.
Also read: PM provides Tk 74.81 cr for non-MPO teachers, employees
But, she mentioned, Bangladesh will be able to attain its desired growth as per projections by local and international organisations.
But, she said, Bangladesh’s foreign currency reserve exceeded USD 45 billion in addition to a bumper Boro production in the country.
Lalmonirhat villages celebrate Eid following Saudi Arabia
In line with the festive day in Saudi Arabia, residents of three unions in Lalmonirhat's Kaliganj upazila offered Eid-ul-Fitr prayers on Thursday.
Every year, Muslims living in the villages of Tusbhandar, Sundrahabi, Kakina, Chaparhat, Chandrapur, Aminganj and Munsipara in Kaliganj observe Ramadan and Eid a day before, in accordance with Saudi Arabia.
Read:Eid-ul-Fitr on Friday as Shawwal moon not sighted
The main Eid congregation was held at Munsipara Jame Mosque in Tusbhandar union of the upazila around 9.30 am on Thursday.
Kaliganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer Abdul Mannan said local worshipers offered Eid prayers at nearby mosques adhering to all Covid safety protocols under the strict vigil of police and the administration.
Eid-ul-Fitr is also being celebrated at 11 villages in Laxmipur in line with the festive day in Saudi Arabia, home to the world's most holy Muslim sites.
The villages are Noagaon, Joypura, Bigha, Hotatia, Sharshoi, Kanchanpur and Kalapur of Raipur upazila and Bashikpur of the district.
Among several places, the Eid congregations were held at Madania Kasemia Madrasa in Ramganj Upazila at 8am.
Residents of these villages have been celebrating all religious festivals, including Eid, for the past 40 years in line with the holy cities of Mecca and Medina.
In Faridpur also, residents of 13 villages in Boalmari offered Eid prayers in the morning. Residents of a few villages in Satkhira also observed Eid-ul-Fitr by offering prayers in accordance with Saudi Arabia.
Read:Eid-ul-Fitr in Saudi Arabia on Thursday
Bangladesh will, however, officially celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr on Friday as the Shawwal moon was not sighted on Wednesday evening. The decision was taken at a meeting of the National Moon Sighting Committee.
Eid-ul-Fitr, the biggest religious festival of the Muslims, will be celebrated amid a global pandemic after a month of fasting.
The Religious Affairs Ministry has urged devotees to offer Eid prayers at the nearest mosques instead of Eidgah and open spaces, maintaining all health protocols.
Eid-ul-Fitr on Friday as Shawwal moon not sighted
Bangladesh will celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr on Friday as the Shawwal moon was not sighted in Bangladesh on Wednesday evening.
“The Eid [Eid-ul-Fitr] will be celebrated on Friday as Shawwal moon was sighted nowhere in Bangladesh’s 64 districts,” said State Minister for Religious Affairs Faridul Haque Khan.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the National Moon Sighting Committee on Wednesday after reviewing the information of Shawwal moon sighting.
Also read: Celebrate Eid where you are: PM Hasina
Eid-ul-Fitr, the biggest religious festival of Muslims, will be celebrated amid a global pandemic like the previous year after a month of fasting.
The Religious Affairs Ministry has urged devotees to offer the Eid prayer at their nearest mosques instead of Eidgah and open spaces, maintaining recommended health guidelines amid the Coronavirus pandemic.
It also suggested disinfecting mosques before the Eid prayer and not rolling out carpets on the floors.
Also read: How to celebrate EID safely during COVID-19 pandemic
The devotees have been asked to bring prayer mats from home.
The devotees must wear masks inside mosques and avoid using prayer mats and caps that were stored earlier there.
Children, elderly people, people with physical ailment, and those involved in taking care of the sick will not be allowed to attend the Eid prayer.
Also read: Rain may dampen Eid celebrations
Besides, the devotees were requested to shun handshaking and hugging after the prayer which has been a common practice during Eid throughout the world.
The Religious Affairs Ministry urged imams and managing committees of mosques to ensure proper implementation of the directives.
There will be five Eid jamaats (congregations) at the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque on the day.
Also read: 5 Eid jamaats to be held at National Mosque from 7am
The first Eid jamaat will be held at 7 am while the next four will be administered at 8 am, 9am, 10am, and 10:45am respectively.
However, amid the risk of virus infection thousands of people have already left the capital to celebrate the very auspicious occasion with their near and dear ones at their respective village homes.
Television channels and radio stations will telecast special programmes on the occasion of Eid.
Over 97 percent owners paid workers’ salaries: BGMEA president
President of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) Faruque Hassan on Wednesday hoped 100 percent of workers’ salaries and festival bonuses will be paid before the day of the Eid-ul-Fitr festival.
“We urge the all workers not to create any indiscipline. Over 97 percent factory owners paid workers’ salaries. We hope 100 percent workers’ salaries and festival bonuses will be paid before the day of the Eid-ul-Fitr ,” he said while addressing a virtual press conference.
The BGMEA president said 1913 factories under BGMEA are operating in the country
Of them, 1667 factories are in Dhaka and 246 in Chattogram. The owners of 1866 (97.54%) factories have paid the salary for the month of April up to May 11. Of these, 1652 are in Dhaka and 214 in Chattogram. And the bonus was paid in 1882 factories (1659 in Dhaka and 223 in Chattogram) which 99 percent till yesterday, he added.
“Some 15 factories paid salary of April and 8 factories paid bonus on Wednesday in Dhaka. And 32 factories of Chattorgram paid salary and 23 factories paid bonus today. About 800 factories in Dhaka have been brought under close monitoring and payment of salary and bonus has been ensured by cooperating with 44 factories in various ways,” he added.
Also read: Workers cannot leave workplaces during Eid holidays: Monnujan
“We always want that our workers stay well. In the last 10 years, the facilities of the workers have been increased more. We can provide more facilities in future if our productivity and capacity increase. We have to pass a difficult time in the next three months. We hope that the garment industry will overcome its existing problems from the next year. So, we need more support from banks,” he also said.
The new BGMEA president said many factory owners fell in cash crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We operate factories amid the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown maintaining health safety. So, our cost also went up vastly. Even, some buyers did not pay money as they were bankrupt following the pandemic,” he added.
Faruque said 44 lakh workers are involved in the garment industry.
“The livelihood of around 5 crore people directly and indirectly depend on the industry. The ages of most of workers are between 18-30 years. So the coronavirus infection rate is low in the industry.”
Also read: Clear wages, Eid bonus by May 10: RMG workers
According to his written statement, after an unprecedented 18% decline in exports in the last financial year, exports have declined by a further 8.72% in the first 10 months of the current financial year.
The export crisis especially in the oven sector has reached a climax. During the month of March, it reduced 24.70 percent while in April it decreased 6.37 percent compared to the same period of FY 2018-19. It has been possible to avoid major catastrophes in the economy thanks to positive decision by the Prime Minster.
Faruque said they have taken measures in collaboration with the government so that workers get salary and bonus before Eid.
5 die in stampede, heatstroke at Banglabazar ferry terminal
Amid mad rush of homebound people ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr, five people died in stampede and heatstroke at Banglabazar ferry terminal on Wednesday.
Banglabazar Traffic Police Inspector Ashikur Rahman said a teenage boy was killed in a stampede while getting off Shah Paran ferry.
The deceased was identified as Anchur,15, son of Giasuddin Madbor of Noria upazila of Shariatpur.
Also read: Covid-19 claims 40 more lives, infects 1,144 others
Four others died due to heatstroke and stampede while boarding off Enayetpuri ferry at the same terminal, he said.
Sources said that lakhs of people have crossed the Padma River on ferries since morning. All the 17 ferries are operating to cater to the mad rush of homebound people.
Some 800 vehicles and 10,000 people have crossed the river till Wednesday noon, officials said.
Also read: BGB deployed on Paturia-Daulatdia, Shimulia-Banglabazar routes
Authorities, meanwhile, claimed that people will not face any difficulties in crossing rivers as ferry services are available.
The UNB correspondent found hundreds of people reaching the Daulatdia-Paturia ghat in the afternoon on foot, in rickshaws and other vehicles, defying all the lockdown norms.
Police have installed a number of check-posts on the highway, including Barbaria, Singair and Dhalla areas. Though the cops forced many vehicles coming from other districts to return, passengers were quick to get off the vehicles and head towards the ferry ghat on foot.
Also read: Mad rush of homebound people at Paturia terminal
Ferry services on Paturia-Daulatdia and Shimulia-Banglabazar routes were suspended to curb the spread of Covid-19.
Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) said the decision to suspend ferry services on the two busy water routes, with effect from Saturday morning, was taken in the wake of the ongoing second wave of coronavirus.
But the mad rush of homebound people forced them to resume the ferry services.