United News of Bangladesh

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has taken comprehensive and coordinated security measures for Eid-ul-Fitr congregations across the capital and no specific threat has been detected. Acting DMP Commissioner Md Sarwar made the remarks on Thursday while briefing reporters after inspecting security arrangements at the National Eidgah. A total of 1,771 Eid congregations are set to be held at 121 Eidgahs and 1,599 mosques in Dhaka, he said. He said the main congregation at the National Eidgah Maidan will begin at 8:30am where over 35,000 devotees are expected to offer prayers. Five congregations will also be held at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque, with the first starting at 7:00am. In addition, the Dhaka North City Corporation will organise an Eid congregation at the old Trade Fair ground in Agargaon.  Besides three congregations will be held in Dhaka on Friday following Eid celebration in Saudi Arabia, while eight other congregations will be arranged by the Shia community on the the same day. Sarwar said DMP has adopted coordinated and comprehensive security measures for all Eid congregations, including at the National Eidgah and Baitul Mukarram mosque. Responding to a query on security concerns, he said there is no threat but intelligence agencies remain active and will inform law enforcement agency if any issue arises, ensuring preparedness to tackle any situation. He added that multi-layered security arrangements have been put in place at the National Eidgah, including archways and metal detectors at entry points, along with CCTV surveillance across the venue and surrounding area. Barricades will be set up at Matsya Bhaban, Jatiya Press Club and Shikkha Bhaban area to restrict vehicular movement, allowing only pedestrians to access the Eidgah. Police patrol will be active around the venue, and all attendees must enter through designated gates. The area will also be swept by CTTC dog squads and Special Branch teams, while DMP’s bomb disposal unit will remain on standby. Members of SWAT, DB in plain clothes and CTTC will be deployed to ensure an additional security tiers. Coordination with other law enforcement agencies will be maintained, while fire service units and emergency medical teams will remain ready. On traffic management, the acting DMP commissioner said diversions will be in place at Zero Point crossing, Government Employees Hospital, High Court crossing, Press Club link road, Foreign Ministry rear lane, Paltan crossing, Police Control Room gap and Matsya Bhaban crossing. Devotees will have to walk from these points to reach the Eidgah. He urged the city dwellers not to bring bags or any items to the venue and to cooperate with security checks. Any suspicious activity should be reported to nearby police or by calling 999. Sarwar also said adequate police will be deployed across the capital during Eid, including deployment of traffic sergeants to prevent over speeding on city roads.

The Baitul Mukarram National Mosque is scheduled to host five congregations on Sunday on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha, the second largest religious festival of the Muslims. In a statement, the Islamic Foundation said that the first of the five congregations will be held at 7am. The second will take place at 8am, the third one at 9am and the fourth one at 10am. The last one of the day will be held at 10.45am. The foundation also fixed Imams and Mukabbirs for the congregations. The holy Eid-ul-Azha, the second biggest religious festival of the Muslims, will be celebrated in the country on July 10 (Sunday) as the new moon of the Arabic month of Zilhaj was sighted in Bangladesh sky on Thursday. The decision was made at a meeting of the National Moon Sighting Committee after reviewing information about the sighting of the Jilhaj moon, said Md Abdul Awal Hawlader, additional secretary to the Religious Affairs Ministry. Also Read: Bangladesh celebrates Eid as pandemic fades The meeting was held in the office of the Islamic Foundation at Baitul Mukarram with Awal Hawlader in the chair.    

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.  

The Baitul Mukarram National Mosque is scheduled to host five congregations on Monday on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr, the biggest religious festivals of Muslims.

Eid-ul-Fitr, the largest religious festival of Muslims, will be celebrated in the country on Monday as the Shawwal moon was not sighted in Bangladesh sky on Saturday.