A few lakhs Muslims attended the Eid-ul-Azha jamaat at the Sholakia Eidgah in Kishoreganj at 9 am on Thursday morning, reports UNB.
People from far and wide came to the Eidgah in the morning to participate in the Eid prayers. Two trains from Mymensingh and Bhairab reached Kishoreganj in the morning with the devotees. The Eidgah was packed with people before 9 am.
Maulana Farid Uddin Masud led the Eid jamaat.
This year, Sholakia Eidgah Maidan hosted its 196th jamaat.
According to tradition, before starting the jamaat, a gun salute was conducted. After the sermon, prayers were held seeking the wellbeing of the Muslim ummah, including in Bangladesh.
The railway authorities also arranged two special trains, named Sholakia Express-1 and Sholakia Express-2, for the movement of devotees from far and wide.
As part of the strict security measures, carrying anything except prayer caps, masks and prayer mats was prohibited.
A large number of volunteers and a few medical teams were on duty on the field to assist the devotees.
There were also CCTV cameras and watchtowers at the entrances, including on the field.
Four-tier security measures were put in place in view of the terrorist attack in Sholakia in 2016.
A total of five platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh were deployed. Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), police, plainclothes policemen and detectives in white clothes were monitoring the field in coordination with Ansar members as well.
Six ambulances and 2 firefighting units remained on standby round the clock for emergency calls.
The Eidgah is situated on the northern bank of the Norsunda river. Mannan Dad Khan, former Dewan of Haibatnagar in Kishoreganj, donated 4.35 acres of land through Waqf deeds in 1950 and now the Eidgah has an area of seven acres.
Every year, Sholakia Eidgha Maidan turns into a sea of people. People offer prayers and seek blessings from Allah for peace and happiness.
Bd-pratidin English/Lutful Hoque
