All necessary preparations have almost been completed for holding the country’s largest Eid congregations at Sholakia Eidgah in Kishoreganj district. This year, the authorities concerned are preparing to hold the 196th jamaat at Sholakia Eidgah Maidan. Four-tier security measures have been taken in and around the Eidgah to ensure foolproof security, said Deputy Commissioner of Kishoreganj Mohammad Abul Kalam Azad while visiting the venue on Wednesday. The main Eid jamaat will be held at 10 am and Maulana Farid Uddin Masud, chairman of Bangladesh Islahul Muslimin Parishad will lead the Eid congregation while Maulana Shoaib Bin A Rob will remain standby. People will be allowed to enter the Eidgah with only prayer mats and masks. This year, none will be allowed to carry mobile phones and umbrellas for security concerns. According to the Sholakia Eidgah managing committee, a four-tier security system has been put in place to ensure the safety of the devotees. A total of five platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) will be deployed besides Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), police, plainclothes police and detectives. Apart from CCTV cameras, six watchtowers and drones will be deployed to keep an eye on the ground. Six ambulances and fire service will remain standby round the clock for emergency calls. Also read: Sholakia hosts Asia's largest Eid Jamaat

After a Covid-induced hiatus of two years, the largest Eid congregation in Asia was held at Sholakia Eidgah Maidan in Kishoreganj on Tuesday. After the Eid Jamaat, the deputy commissioner and Eidgah Management Committee president Mohammad Shamim Alam told journalists that around three lakh devotees participated in the congregation. This year, Maulana Soayib Bin Abdur Rouf, imam of Kishoreganj Boro Bazar Jame Mosque, conducted the Jamaat instead of Maulana Farid Uddin Masud, chairman of Jamiatul Ulama. Devotees at Sholakia prayed for all Muslim Ummah and sought blessings from Allah.  Also Read: Bangladesh celebrates Eid as pandemic fades Mashrukur Rahman Khaled, superintendent of Kishoreganj Police, said that the entire Sholakia Eidgha Maidan was brought under a thick security blanket. A four-tier security system was put in place to ensure the safety of the devotees, he said. A total of five platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) were deployed besides Rapid Action Battalion (Rab), police and detectives. Apart from CCTV cameras, drones kept an eagle eye on the ground. Two fire tenders and ambulances were on standby for any emergency, he added. Two special trains -- both named Sholakia Express -- were operated on Bhairab-Kishoreganj and Mymensingh-Kishoreganj routes to ensure that the devotees could join the largest Eid Jamaat, officials said. Every year, Sholakia Eidgha Maidan turns into a gathering place for Muslims. People offer prayers and seek blessings from Allah for their peace and happiness.     

The largest Eid congregation at Sholakia Eidgah Maidan in Kishoreganj will be held at 10am on Eid day, after a Covid-induced hiatus of two years. Kishoreganj deputy commissioner Md Shamim Alam, also the president of the Eidgah Management Committee, said this on Thursday after inspecting the maidan ahead of the 195th Eid-ul-Fitr prayers. Also read: Thick security blanket for Eid Jamaat at Sholakia Eidgah Maidan Maulana Farid Uddin Masud will lead the Eid congregation and Maulana Shoaib bin A Rauf will be the standby Imam. Worshipers will be allowed to enter the maidan with only prayer mats and masks. They will, however, be allowed to carry their mobile phones.

Preparations are in full swing at Sholakia Eidgah Maidan in Kishoreganj for the return of the country’s largest Eid-ul-Fitr congregation after a Covid-induced hiatus of two years. This will be the 195th Eid congregation of Sholakia Eidgah, the largest Eid Jamaat in Asia. The Islamic Foundation had banned all Eid congregations in the open and at Eidgah Maidan to prevent the outbreak of Covid-19 in the country in the last two years. According to the Sholakia Eidgah managing committee, a four-tier security system has been put in place to ensure the safety of the devotees. Read: Ashrayan-2: About 33, 000 homeless families get homes as PM's Eid gift Mashrukur Rahman Khaled, superintendent of Kishoreganj Police, said that the entire Sholakia Eidgha Maidan has been brought under a thick security blanket. A total of five platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) will be deployed besides Rapid Action Battalion (Rab), police and detectives. Apart from CCTV cameras, drones will be deployed to keep an eagle eye on the ground.

For the first time in nearly 200 years, there will be no Eid congregation at Kishoreganj’s Sholakia as the country fights to contain the spread of coronavirus.