The holy Eid-ul-Fitr, one of the greatest religious festivals of the Muslims, will be celebrated in the country on Saturday as the Shawwal moon was sighted in the sky of Bangladesh on Friday evening.
"The moon of Shawwal month of 1444 Hijri was sighted today [Friday] in the skyline of the country. The holy Eid-ul-Fitr will be celebrated tomorrow [Saturday]," Islamic Foundation Assistant Public Relations Officer Shayla Sharmin told BSS after the meeting of the National Moon Sighting Committee.
State Minister for Religious Affairs and National Moon Sighting Committee President Md Faridul Haque Khan presided over the meeting at the meeting room of the Islamic Foundation at the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque in Dhaka this evening, she said.
The main jamaat of the Eid-ul-Fitr will be held at the National Eidgah on the High Court premises in the capital at 8:30am Saturday.
If the congregation cannot be held due to inclement weather or any other unavoidable reason, it will be held at 9am at the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque.
Another congregation of the holy Eid-ul-Fitr prayers will be held at 8:30am at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad on Eid day.
Besides, five Eid jamaats (congregation) will be held at the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque on the day of Eid-ul-Fitr.
The first Eid jamaat will be held at 7am while the next four Jamaats will be held at 8am, 9am, 10am and 10:45am respectively.
President Md Abdul Hamid will offer the prayers of Eid-ul-Fitr along with hundreds of people from all walks of life at the National Eidgah.
Apart from the head of the state, the country's noted personalities, including chief justice, cabinet members, Supreme Court judges, lawmakers, political leaders and high civil and military officials will also offer their prayers there.
After the prayers, President Abdul Hamid will exchange Eid greetings with the devotees at the Eidgah on the day.
The Eid jamaat will be held under the auspices of the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC). Special arrangement has been made for women to offer Eid prayers at the National Eidgah.
Intensified security measures have been taken in and around the prayers ground.
On his arrival at the Eidgah, the president will be received by Chief Justice Hasan Foez Siddique, DSCC Mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh and others concerned.
Meanwhile, the holy Jumatul Wida, the last Friday of the holy month of Ramadan, was observed across the country with due solemnity and religious fervour.
The biggest Jumatul Wida congregation was held at the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque.
Eid-ul-Fitr is an Arabic word meaning "festival of breaking of the fast." The festival marks the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar.
Muslims abstain from eating and drinking from dawn to dusk during the holy month.
On Eid day morning, usually, devotees gather at mosques and prayer venues to perform Eid prayers and greet each other.
The festival is celebrated by visiting friends and relatives, hosting food parties and sharing sweets.
Children not only get new clothes and shoes but also receive cash gifts called "Salami" from their elders, relatives and well-wishers.
The occasion is seen as a time of forgiveness and giving thanks to Allah for helping people to complete their month-long spiritual fasting.
Many Muslims distribute cash and food to the less fortunate ones.
