Muslims across Bangladesh celebrated the holy Eid-ul-Fitr on Friday with due solemnity and religious fervour.

The greatest festival of Muslims this year came at the end of the 29th Ramadan following sighting of the Shawal moon Thursday evening.

The festival was marked by a three-day public holiday that began on Thursday and ended on Saturday.

With the onset of the Eid day. a tranquil atmosphere descended on the capital which was preceded by a mad rush by shoppers thronging every available market and scrambles in bus. train and launch terminals by home-goers to celebrate the Eid with their near and dear ones outside the capi-

tal.

Eid was a day of fun. of exchanging gifts, warm embraces, calling on and visiting relatives. having delicious meals. It was a day of merry-making for e'hilcjhm.

It was also a day to visit graves and offer Jateha for eternal peace of the departed souls and risit sick relatives at hospitals.

The entire run-up to the Eid was for everyone, according to one's ability, a period of loosening up the purses but enriching the heart. The rich, gave away zakat and fitra money in cash and kind to the less fortunate.

Tile Eid day was a day for every Muslim to be rejuvenated with the Islamic ideal of broth -erhood.

The day's programme included Eid congregations In mosques and Eidgahs throughout the country. The National Flag was hoisted atop all public buildings in the morning.

In the capital, the main Eid congregation was held at the National Eidgah on the premises of the Supreme Court where President Snahabuddin Ahmed offered his prayers. Ministers and high civil and military officials were among the thousands of devotees who also offered their Eid prayers there.

Four Eid congregations were held at the Baitul Mukarram national mosque.

In Chittagong the main Eid congregation was held on the Stadium premises.

In Dhaka city, the main thoroughfares were decorated with National Flags and flags inscribed with Eid-Mubarak.

Public and private buildings were illuminated in Dhaka and Chittatgong in the evening.

Special diets were served at all hospitals, prisons, orphanages. vagrant homes and destitute centres across the country.

President Shahabuddin Ahmed and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina hosted separate Eld receptions for the elite and the diplomats at Bangabhaban and Gano Bhaban respectively.

Prime Minister Hasina also greeted a cross-section of people at her official residence in the morning and in the afternoon.

Jubilant people also brought out colourful Eid processions In the old part of Dhaka city on the day after Eid. Attired in traditional festival clothes and carrying placards, banners and festoons, people joined in such processions brought out by more than 100 organisations. Mayor of the City Corporation Mohammad Hanif led one procession.

The Islamic Foundation. Islamic Cultural Centres. Bangla Academy and the Shishu Academy arranged discussion meetings focusing on the significance of the day.

Children's reunions and charity football matches were also organised in different parts of the country.

District and thana administrations also organised programmes in conformity with the national level programmes.

Bangladesh missions abroad also arranged programmes to celebrate the Eid.

Bangladesh Betar and Bangladesh Television put some special programmes on the Eld day and the day after.

Leading newspapers brought out Eid supplements on Wednesday.