The Eid-ul-Fitr, one of the biggest religious festivals of the Muslims, was celebrated across Bangladesh with festivity and religious fervour on Saturday.
The very auspicious occasion began with the sighting of the Shawwal moon on Friday evening and reached the climax on Saturday morning amid offering the Eid-ul-Fitr prayers by millions from all strata of life at mosques, Eidgahs and makeshift prayer venues in the capital and elsewhere across the country.
During munajats after Eid congregations (jamaats), the Muslims also prayed for divine blessings to help strengthen national unity against all odds and destructive activities.
President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina greeted the countrymen as well as the Muslims across the world on occasion of the holy Eid-ul-Fitr.
The country's main Eid jamaat (congregation) in the capital was held at the National Eidgah on Bangladesh Supreme Court premises at 8.30am Saturday.
President Abdul Hamid offered Eid-ul-Fitr prayers along with hundreds of people from all walks of life at the National Eidgah.
Chief justice, cabinet members, judges of the Supreme Court, members of parliament, senior political leaders and high civil and military officials also offered prayers at the main Eid congregation.
Khatib of the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque Mufti Ruhul Amin Faridpuri conducted the Eid prayers.
Gor-e-Shaheed Baro Maidan in Dinajpur and Sholakia Eidgah in Kishoreganj held the country's biggest Eid congregations at 9.00am and at 10am respectively.
Bangladesh Railway operated Solakia special trains on Bhoirab-Kishoreganj-Bhoirab and Mymensingh-Kishoreganj-Mymensingh routes on the day for carrying passengers to and from the Sholakia Eidgah Maidan.
Five Eid congregations were held at the Baitul Muqarram National Mosque at 7:00am, 8:00am, 9:00am, 10:00am and 10:45am on Saturday.
City corporations kept the children parks, allowing free entry of all visitors on the occasion of Eid. Eid-ul-Fitr was also observed in Bangladesh missions abroad too in a befitting manner.
The government also took elaborate programs to celebrate the holy Eid-ul-Fitr with due respect and religious fervour.
Important traffic islands and light posts in Dhaka city were decorated with miniature national flags and flags inscribed with "Eid Mubarak".
Besides, designated government offices and other establishments were illuminated.
Bangladesh Television, Bangladesh Betar and private television channels aired special programs while newspapers published supplements on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr.
Improved diets were served to hospitals, jails and orphanages.
The government earlier declared a five-day long public holiday that began on Thursday.
