Sombre Eid observed across the country
This Eid has taken an unusually bleak impression in its celebration
The Eid-ul-Fitr this year came at a time when the world is struggling to fight the deadly coronavirus infection and the people from many parts of Bangladesh are battling dual woes of the last week's havoc caused by Cyclone Amphan alongside the pandemic crisis.
This Eid has taken an unusually bleak impression in its celebration.
According to the government notification on May 14, Muslim devotees were asked to avoid Eidgah (prayer grounds) or other open spaces for Eid congregations, and to offer the prayer at mosques maintaining recommended health guidelines.
Following the instruction – which also urged devotees to bring prayer mats from home and to shun handshaking and hugging – people from different parts of the country offered their Eid prayer in more than usual number of jamaats (congregations) at their respective mosques.In Barishal, the Eid jamaats started as early as 5:45am in the morning and kept on repeating until 10:30am with breathers in between.
After the Khutbah (religious sermon), Barishal divisional commissioner and deputy commissioner conveyed their Eid greetings, and reiterated the government's safety instructions.
People were seen exchanging Eid greetings following the social distancing rules.
In Rangpur, the first Eid jamaat of this year took place at 8:30am in the morning and it continued until 11:30am. However, the main jamaat was held at Keramatia Jama Masjid at 9:30am.
According to the Islamic Foundation, 6,000 mosques held Eid jamaats this year and some 300 residential garage and rooftops were also utilised to organise the prayer.
Asib Ahsan, deputy commissioner of Rangpur, confirmed The Business Standard that people performed Eid prayers at their preferred locations between mosques and homes following social distancing obligations.Chattogram, which is the country's one of the most pandemic hit districts, is also observing the Eid as per the government directives.
The port city's main Eid jamaat was held in Jamiatul Falah National Mosque at 8am in the morning.
After every session, special Munajat was held seeking redemption from the deadly virus. Devotees shunned traditional hand-shakes and hugs after the prayer.
People there offered Eid prayers wearing protective face masks in 41 wards of Chattogram City Corporation under the supervision of ward commissioners.Around seven thousand police officials are on duty today, according to a press release of the Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP).
Abu Bakkar Siddique, additional deputy commissioner of the CMP, said 250 mosques held Eid prayers in the port city today.