The country's largest-ever congregation of the holy Eid-ul-Azha was held on the historic Sholakia Eidgah ground in Kishoreganj at 9am on Monday with hundreds of thousands of devotees offering prayers.
Amid the tight security measures, the 197th Eid Jamaat at this ground took place. The massive Eidgah field filled up early in the morning as devotees arrived to participate in the prayers starting at 9 am, led by Maulana Hifzur Rahman Khan, khatib of Borobazar Markaz Mosque.
Sholakia Eidgah Management Committee and Kishoreganj Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Abul Kalam Azad said hundreds of thousands of Muslims attended this year's Eid Jamaat.
Following tradition, three rounds of gunfire signalled the preparation for prayers before the congregation began. After the sermon, prayers for the well-being of the Muslim ummah, including Bangladesh, were conducted.
Special train services--'Sholakia Special' were arranged by the railway authorities to facilitate the travel of worshippers from distant places. However, strict security measures prohibited entry into the city without caps, masks, and prayer mats, causing inconvenience to the worshippers who braved heavy rain.
To ensure safety, a large number of volunteers and several medical teams were deployed at the ground.
Superintendent of Police Md. Rasel Sheikh said that strict security arrangements were put in place since the 2016 militant attack in Sholakia.
During prayer times, two platoons of BGB, a large number of police, RAB, and Ansar members coordinated security operations alongside surveillance by various intelligence agencies. CCTV cameras and watchtowers were also positioned along the pathways, with police drones monitoring from above, he said.
The Eidgah was established in 1828 by Dewan Hayat Khan Bahadur on about seven acres of land on the banks of the Narasunda River, on the eastern outskirts of Kishoreganj town. That year, the first congregation held in Sholakia was attended by 1.25 lakh Muslims, and hence the ground was named "Soa Lakhi Maath". Over time, the pronunciation evolved to "Sholakia Maath".
