All necessary preparations have been taken for holding the country's largest Eid congregation at Sholakia Eidgah in Kishoreganj district.
The main Eid congregation will be held at 10 am. Maulana Farid Uddin Masud will lead the Eid jamaat.
This will be the I197th Eid jamaat at Sholakia Eidgah Maidan.
Abul Kalam Azad, Kishoreganj Deputy Commissioner and president of Sholakia Eidgah Managing committee, said this year, two special trains—‘Sholakia Express’ will run on Bhairab-Kishoreganj and Mymensingh-Kishoreganj routes to ensure that devotees can join the largest Eid jamaat in the country.This year, the local administration has taken steps to provide food and accommodation to the devotees coming from remote areas.
Five platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), police, Ansar, Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) and plainclothes police will be deployed to ensure security at the Eidgah maidan.
Besides, 25 executive magistrates will perform duties to tackle any situation. Mohammad Russel, Superintendent of Kishoreganj Police, said sufficient security measures have been taken centering the Eid jamaat at Sholakia.
The whole Eidgah maidan will be brought under security blanket.
CCTV cameras, watch towers, archways and metal detectors were installed at the entrance way of the maidan while police will keep vigil through drone cameras.
Muhibul Islam Khan, commander of Rab-14, said 100 Rab members will perform duty to ensure security to the devotees.
During the 2016 Eid-ul-Fitr congregation, militants launched a surprise attack on a temporary police check post near the Eidgah, killing at least four people, including two policemen. The Eidgah is situated on the northern bank of the Norsunda river. Mannan Dad Khan, former Dewan of Haibatnagar in Kishoreganj, donated 4.35 acres of land through Waqf deeds in 1950 and now the Eidgah has an area of seven acres. The Waqf document mentions that Eid Jamaat was held at Sholakia Eidgah Maidan some 200 years ago. Every year, Sholakia Eidgha Maidan turns into a sea of people. People offer prayers and seek blessings from Allah for peace and happiness.