They offered prayers side by side. This marks the first time in more than three decades that both the President and the Prime Minister have performed eid prayers together at the National Eidgah ground.
Special Reporter : Thousands of worshippers gathered at the National Eidgah for the capital’s main Eid-ul-Fitr congregation, with President Md Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman among those attending.The prayers were held at 8:30am on Saturday at the ground next to the High Court, as light drizzle fell over parts of the city.Chief Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury, cabinet members, Dhaka South City Corporation Administrator Abdus Salam, politicians and people from different walks of life also joined the congregation.The Eid prayers were led by Mufti Mohammad Abdul Malek, khatib of the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque.
The Dhaka South City Corporation, which organised the congregation, said the National Eidgah had arrangements for around 35,000 worshippers at a time.From early morning, people of different ages began arriving at the ground from different parts of the capital. Many were wearing new panjabis and caps, while some carried prayer mats and bottles of water.Children and teenagers also came with their guardians, entering the ground in orderly lines.As in previous years, worshippers had to pass through security archways at the main gate before entering the Eidgah.
Although tarpaulin had been laid across the ground and covered with white sheets, many worshippers brought their own mats.Separate arrangements were kept for women, while facilities for ablution, mobile toilets and first aid were also made available.The Met Office had forecast rain, thunderstorms and possible hail in different parts of the country on Eid day.
Authorities had therefore prepared the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque as an alternative venue for the main congregation at 9am if bad weather or any other unavoidable reason prevented prayers at the Eidgah.Law-enforcing agencies set up a security cordon around the main congregation, with police placing barricades and restricting vehicle movement in the surrounding areas.
Traffic was stopped at the Paltan intersection, Matsya Bhaban, Bangabazar and Doel Chattar, forcing many worshippers to walk the rest of the way to the Eidgah ground.The Islamic Foundation said that Baitul Mukarram would host five Eid congregations on Eid day, as it does every year.The first was held at 7am and the second at 8am. The third and fourth were scheduled for 9am and 10am, while the fifth was set for 10:45am.
