Bangladesh set to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr on Monday:PM Sheikh Hasina addresses the nation on the eve of fest

Ebangla Bureau

Eid-ul-Fitr, the largest religious festival of Muslims, will be celebrated in Sunni majority Bangladesh on Monday in a different scenario without any outdoor programme and Eid jamaat at Eidgahs across the country due to the coronavirus pandemic. The government has urged Muslims to avoid Eidgah or other open places for Eid congregations and offer prayers at local mosques as per the protocols recommended by the authorities. The Ministry for Religious Affairs has issued an emergency notification saying the decision has been taken due to the prevailing Covid-19 pandemic. “Although the Islamic Sharia encourages offering Eid prayer at Eidgah or open places, the devotees are now requested to offer their prayers at nearby mosques due to the coronavirus situation,” the notification said adding that there can be several Eid jamaat, if necessary. It has also suggested disinfecting mosques before the Eid prayer and not rolling out carpets on the floors. The devotees have been urged to bring prayer mats from home. Besides, arrangements should be made at the entrances to the mosques for washing hands, the notification added. Devotees must wear masks inside mosques and avoid using prayer mats and caps that were stored earlier there. Children, elderly people, people with a physical ailment, and those taking care of the sick should not be allowed to attend the jamaats. Apart from these, the devotees were requested to shun handshaking and hugging after the prayer — a common practice around the world. Media report thousands of people have left  Dhaka to celebrate Eid at their home-towns and villages with their near and dear ones following the relaxation of the restrictions on the movement of people from the capital city. On Friday, the Director General of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun told UNB that people can go to their villages, homes in their private vehicles for Eid-ul-Fitr. As the restriction on public transport including autos and taxis and continues, people travelled out of Dhaka in cars, microbuses, pickup vans and motorcycles.  People were also permitted to leave Dhaka through river route as authorities started ferry services at Shimulia-Kathalbari and Paturia-Daulatdia ferry terminals. The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) had imposed strict restriction on the movement in and out of the city to prevent the spread of  Corona pandemic and subsequent announcement of general holidays by the government till May 30.