B Mirror Report: Bangladesh has begun to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr, the largest Muslim religious holiday, with great fervor and dedication.

A large number of devotees assembled at the National Eidgah for the main Eid congregation in the capital, where President Md Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman were present.

The prayers took place at 8:30 am on Saturday at the field beside the High Court, amid light rain in parts of the city.

Chief Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury, members of the cabinet, Dhaka South City Corporation Administrator Abdus Salam, political leaders, and people from various backgrounds also attended the gathering.

According to bdnews24.com, the Eid prayers were conducted by Mufti Mohammad Abdul Malek, khatib of the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque.

The Dhaka South City Corporation, the organiser of the event, stated that the National Eidgah had the capacity to accommodate nearly 35,000 worshippers at a time.

Since early morning, people of all ages started coming to the venue from different areas of the capital.

Many were dressed in new panjabis and caps, while others brought prayer mats and water bottles.

Children and teenagers also arrived with their guardians, entering the venue in an orderly manner.

Like previous years, attendees were required to pass through security gates at the main entrance before entering the Eidgah.

Even though the ground was covered with tarpaulin and white sheets, many people preferred to bring their own mats.

Separate sections were arranged for women, and facilities for ablution, mobile toilets, and first aid were also ensured.

The Meteorological Office had predicted rain, thunderstorms, and possible hailstorms in different regions of the country on Eid day.

As a precaution, authorities kept the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque ready as an alternative location for the main congregation at 9:00 am in case of adverse weather or any unavoidable situation.

Law enforcement agencies enforced tight security around the venue, setting up barricades and limiting vehicle movement in nearby areas.

Traffic was halted at Paltan intersection, Matsya Bhaban, Bangabazar, and Doel Chattar, causing many worshippers to walk the remaining distance to the Eidgah.

The Islamic Foundation stated that Baitul Mukarram would hold five Eid congregations on Eid day, as per its usual practice.

The first congregation was held at 7:00 am, followed by the second at 8:00 am. The third and fourth were scheduled for 9:00 am and 10:00 am, while the fifth was fixed for 10:45 am.