After a month of fasting, Bangladesh is celebrating Eid-ul-Fitr on Monday (31 March) with fervour, as millions have travelled from major cities to their hometowns to share the joyous occasion with loved ones.
This year’s festivities take on special significance as the first Eid following the fall of the fascist regime on 5 August last year.
The interim government has announced grand celebrations, inspired by the aesthetics of the Sultanate era.
Public and private Eid congregations will be followed by processions, fairs, and cultural events.
In Dhaka, the North City Corporation is organising a large-scale celebration at the Agargaon Trade Fair Grounds, featuring a rally with decorated elephants and horses, an Eid fair, and a cultural programme in the evening at the South Plaza of the National Parliament.
University of Dhaka will also hold a separate rally.
The president, chief adviser, and various organisations have extended their Eid greetings to the nation.
Historically, Eid-ul-Fitr is regarded as a divine blessing for the Muslim community.
Islamic tradition narrates that when Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) arrived in Medina, he observed that the people celebrated two specific days with games and festivities from the pre-Islamic era.
He then proclaimed that Allah had replaced these with two superior celebrations—Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha.
Eid, derived from the Arabic word meaning "return", symbolises the recurring blessings and grace that Allah bestows upon the believers.
The first recorded Eid celebration dates back to the second year of the Hijri calendar.
This year’s festivities hold deeper resonance, as the country, long deprived of true celebratory freedom, finally embraces an unshackled spirit of joy.
