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Christmas today
The Christian community in Bangladesh, as elsewhere in the world will celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ today, reports BSS.
Festivities however began since evening when holy masses were held at different churches and Christmas eve parties at homes colourfully lighted and adorned with the Christmas tree. Christmas cakes were cut amid carol singing.
Christmas eve rituals reached its peak when devotees defying Inclement weather attended the mid night masses in thousands.
The city yesterday experienced untimely winter drizzles.
In the capital, holy masses were held at the St Mary's Cathedral at Kakrail, Holy Cross Church at Luxmlbazar. Holy Rosary Church at Tejgaon, National Major Seminary at Banani, St Christian's Church at Assad Gate and Kafrui Catholic Church. Christmas Day masses will be held al these churches between 6.30 and nine this morning.
The government has declared the day as a national holiday. Radio and television will put up special programmes on the occasion
President Abdur Rahman Biswas opened the Christmas celebrations by cutting a Christmas cake when a detega-Hon of Bangladesh Christian Association called on him at Bangabhaban yesterday niorn
Delegations of Bangladesh Christian Association and Dhaka Pastors Fellowship also met Begum Zia to greet her at her Sugandha office yesterday
The delegation presented the Prime Minister with Christmas cakes as a token of goodwill.
PM’s message
Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia Tuesday called upon the people to perform their historic responsibility, Irrespective of religion, caste, creed and opinion, to make Bangladesh a democratic country and a society with rule of law
In a message on the eve of the Christmas Day. the I'rimc Minister said the effort of the present government was to build a democratic country with full respect to rule of law.
She said it was also need of the hour that all should play their due rote in materialising this programme.
Begum Zia said the Christmas Day commemorates the holy birth of Jesus Christ. She conveyed her congratulations to the Christian community tn Bangladesh and lauded the role of the community for contributing their mite to national progress.
The Prime Minister said the message of Hazrat Isah (A) was fraternity, friendship, fellow feelings, service and peace. This message Is eternal ( and accepted widely, she added.
Begum Zia also pointed out that fraternity and tolerance arc the traditional heritage of | Bangladesh and hoped that the celebrations of the X-Mas Day would further enrich this her-ilagc.
Hasina
UNB adds: Awamf League President and Opposition Leader in Parliament Sheikh Hasina Tuesday conveyed her i greetings to the Christian community on the occasion. I
In a message on the eve of Christmas, she said Awaml League believes in equal rights, privileges and status of all classes of people irrespective of faith, creed and colour as the essence of all religion is welfare of humanity.
Hasina recalled the sub- । lime sacrifices made by people of all religions during the 1971 Liberation War. 'Bangladesh emerged as a secular stale through the victory । of the Independence war. burying all communal senti-
The communal politics, she said. was revived after the killing of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib tn 1975 destroying the values of the war.
The Awaml League leader, [ in her message, also calkd for taking a renewed vow to I establish an exploitation-free social order based on peace , and equality.