United News of Bangladesh

The main Eid-ul-Azha congregation will be held at the National Eidgah at 7:30am, with the the participation of President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Administrator Abdus Salam announced this while briefing reporters on Monday morning after inspecting preparations at the National Eidgah. He said all preparations for the main congregation have already been completed. “If weather conditions remain favourable, the main Eid congregation will be held at the National Eidgah at 7:30am. Otherwise, it will be shifted to the National Mosque Baitul Mukarram at 8:00am,” he said. The DSCC administrator said four entry points and seven exit points have been arranged at the Eidgah venue for devotees. A total of 121 prayer rows are being prepared at the Eidgah ground, while facilities have also been made for ablution where 140 worshippers will be able to perform ablution at the same time, he said. Salam said air-cooling arrangements, sufficient fans and lighting facilities, along with mobile toilets, have also been ensured at the venue. He urged city residents not to throw sacrificial waste into drains and sewers during Eid-ul-Azha. “Rain may occur at any time. If sacrificial waste is dumped into drains, water flow will be blocked and roads may go under water. Then people will blame the city corporation,” he said. Salam said the city corporation has cleaned drains and roads ahead of Eid and sought cooperation from residents to keep the city clean. The DSCC administrator also said all leave for city corporation officials and employees has been cancelled during Eid. “No official or employee of the city corporation will be allowed to enjoy Eid holidays. They have all been assigned area-based responsibilities to ensure a clean and enjoyable Eid for city residents,” he said. Salam expressed hope that coordinated efforts by city corporation officials, employees and residents would help build a “Clean City, Green City. “If we change ourselves, Dhaka will also change. Together, we can build a clean and green city.”  

The main congregation of Eid-ul-Fitr will be held at the National Eidgah on the High Court premises at 8:30 am on the Eid day.However, if weather remains unfavourable or the main congregation is not held at the National Eidgah for any other reason the main congregation will be held at 9:00 am at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque.The decision was taken at an inter-ministerial meeting on Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations headed by State Minister for Religious Affairs Adviser Dr AFM Khalid Hossain at the Secretariat on Sunday. Eid Weather: Will the skies remain clear or surprise us?A committee comprising representatives from Cabinet Division, Islamic Foundation, SSF, DMP commissioner, Meteorological Department, SPARRSO and Information and Broadcasting Ministry will be formed with Dhaka Divisional Commissioner to take an immediate decision on shifting the main congregation of Eid to Baitul Mukarram Mosque in case of inclement weather.The first queue of the main congregation will be longer than last year so that the VIPs can stand in the first row.Depending on the sighting of the moon, the holy Eid-ul-Fitr is expected to be celebrated on March 31 or April 1.