Calls to resist conspiracies against the nation during Eid prayers

Hundreds of thousands of Muslims have gathered at the National Eidgah grounds for the Eid-ul-Fitr prayer service at the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

Dhaka's main Eid prayer congregation was held on Monday at the grounds next to the High Court.

Prayers were said for the martyrs of the July Uprising and the good health of those injured during the movement.

Devotees also hoped for the realisation of Bangladesh as an ideal country and for the thwarting of conspiracies against it.

Mufti Mohammad Abdul Malek, khatib of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque, led the main congregation at 8:30am.

In attendance were Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus, Religious Affairs Advisor AFM Khalid Hossain, Energy Advisor Fouzul Kabir Khan, Supreme Court justices, diplomats from different countries, the administrator of the Dhaka South City Corporation, politicians, intellectuals, government secretaries, and people of all classes and professions.

After the initial prayer service, Chief Advisor Yunus delivered an address, sending his Eid greetings to all.

Prayers were then offered for the welfare of the country and the nation.

Mufti Malek prayed to Allah to forgive everyone's sins, give them a debt-free life, cure the sick, and end the “troubles” of the people.

"Keep the entire Muslim world under your protection. Protect oppressed Muslim communities from oppression. Give us the courage to stop oppressors from carrying out their oppression. Strengthen our faith.”

"Keep our country under your special protection. Protect the elders who are responsible for running this country. Bolster their courage. Keep everyone under your protection."

Asking for protection from all evil, the imam said in the prayer: "Destroy all conspiracies against this country, wherever they may be. Give us the ability to build this country into an ideal. Give the ability to maintain order to every citizen of the country. May Allah reward all those who are working for the welfare of this country.”

Recalling the martyrs of the July-August Uprising in 2024, he said: “May Allah accept the martyrdom of these brothers… who showed us the dream of building a new Bangladesh, who became martyrs. May Allah grant (the injured) full recovery and grant them the ability to return to normal life.”

During the prayer, he said: “May Allah grant all the people of the country the ability to value the blood of these brothers. May the Almighty grant us the ability not to take any action or step that betrays the blood they shed.”

In his prayer, he said, "Allah, grant the non-Muslims of this country safety, so they can live in greater security. Give us all the grace to live safely and securely."

As the morning sun rose, people of all ages rushed to the Eidgah grounds from far and wide. Everyone wore fresh Punjabi kurtas and had skull caps on their heads. Many carried prayer mats and water bottles.

Children and teenagers accompanied their guardians. They entered the grounds holding hands, shoulder to shoulder.

For security, people entering the grounds had to queue and pass through a security archway.

The police had earlier informed devotees that they could only carry prayer mats and wallets. With no forecast of rain on the horizon, there was no need for umbrellas either.

The line of visitors crowding the main gate stretched to the Paltan intersection, from the Matsya Bhaban intersection in the north to Bangabazar in the south.

Law enforcers have set up a security cordon around the Matsya Bhaban, Bangabazar, Paltan, and GPO intersections to ensure easy entry and exit to and from the grounds.

Police set up barricades to block all vehicles from the area. Vehicles were also barred from the Paltan intersection, Matsya Bhaban, Bangabazar, and Doel Chattar intersection. Those travelling to the Eidgah grounds had to continue on foot.

Separate arrangements have been made for men and women to pray at the Eidgah. Women entered through a separate entrance to the south of the grounds, separated by a curtain.

Meanwhile, as every year, five Eid prayer congregations were held at Baitul Mukarram on Eid Day.

The first Eid prayer service was scheduled for 7am, the second at 8am, the third at 9am, the fourth at 10am, and the fifth at 10:45am.