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'Eid' Starts in Bangladesh, Pakistan, India

Monday, 15 October 2007

Dhaka, October 15: 'Eid Al-Fitr', which marks the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, started Sunday, October 14, in Bangladesh, Pakistan and India with prayers and supplications for peace.

"We pray for the peace and prosperity of the country. Let us forget enmity in politics and give us strength to go forward to make a good nation," a Bangladeshi imam told a 50,000-strong congregation at Dhaka's national mosque. Bangladesh has been under emergency rule since January when a state of emergency was imposed and elections were cancelled over vote-rigging allegations.

A military-backed government took power on January 12 and has pledged to hold fresh polls after completing a massive corruption crackdown that has seen more than 150 prominent figures detained.

Those arrested include the country's two most recent prime ministers, Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina Wajed, who lead the two main political parties. Cities across the country were almost deserted after a mass exodus of people who travelled to their home villages to spend the holiday with their families.

An estimated six million people, half the capital's population, left Dhaka over the past few days with most travelling by dangerously-overcrowded buses, ferries and trains. The government has announced a two-day public holiday for Sunday and Monday.

Pakistan, India

In Pakistan and India, thousands of people celebrated the 'Eid' with religious zeal and fervor. The faithful thronged mosques across the two countries and opened places to offer prayers with respect and honor and seek forgiveness from God, the Pakistan Times reported Sunday.

Imams and preachers delivered sermons on the importance of the day and urged the followers to tread the path of God and Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). Majority of residents of major cities in both countries left on Friday and Saturday for their native towns to celebrate 'Eid'.

Thousands thronged the railway stations and bus stands in Islamabad and New Delhi for an early departure to their respective destinations and celebrate the festival with their relatives. The two capitals presented a deserted look with thin traffic on roads and markets and centers witnessing very few buyers as the owners and the customers already left the city.

In the Pakistani capital Islamabad, police have tightened security to ensure safety of citizens during 'Eid'. The city has been divided into three zones to maintain law and order and to avert any untoward incident.

Security in the markets, commercial centers, parks and public places has also been enhanced and private security guards have been directed to remain extra vigilant. Bangladesh, Pakistan and India marked the festival one of two major festivities in the Islamic calendar after most other Muslim countries worldwide as the new crescent moon was not sighted until Saturday night. -Agencies




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