Christmas Day celebrated across country
The Christian people offered special prayers on the day by illuminating churches and installing makeshift Christmas trees at homes and places of worship and missions
The Christian community today (25 December) celebrated Christmas Day in Bangladesh as elsewhere in the world with festivity and religious fervour commemorating the birthday of Jesus Christ.
The Christian people offered special prayers on the day by illuminating churches and installing makeshift Christmas trees at homes and places of worship and missions.
Elderly people of the community, attired in the outfit of Santa Claus, usually make fun with children and distribute gifts among kids as part of a universal Christian practice.
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Various programmes were arranged to celebrate Christmas in all churches, including St Mary's Cathedral Church in the city's Kakrail area and in famous city hotels including InterContinental, Pan Pacific Sonargaon, The Westin and Radisson.
The day was a public holiday.
In separate messages, President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus greeted members of the Christian community on the occasion.
They wished for peace, welfare, and prosperity of all citizens, including Christians, of the country.
President Shahabuddin, in his message, said Bangladesh is a country of communal harmony as all people have been practicing their religions and rituals independently in this country for long.
About Jesus Christ's contribution to society, the president said Jesus taught people to be in a peaceful position with love, compassion, forgiveness, affection, empathy, and the establishment of justice.
Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, in his message, hoped that Christmas will further strengthen the existing camaraderie and harmony between Christians and other communities in the country.
For thousands of years, he said people of all religions, regardless of race, religion, or caste, have lived together in harmony in this country. People of all religions and communities have ultimate freedom to practice their own religion here, he added.
On the holy day, churches in the capital were illuminated while Christmas trees were set up and candles were lit at abodes and churches by the Christian community to celebrate the event amid religious fervor.
Following the tradition, Santa Claus distributed sweets and gifts among children in churches on the occasion. This was a 'great day' for children in the Christian community as they got interesting gifts. Carolers sang Christmas carols praising Jesus Christ and God.
The national dailies published special articles highlighting the importance of Christmas.
Bangladesh Television, Bangladesh Betar, and private radio stations and TV channels aired special programmes marking the festival.
The government maintained nationwide tight security for peaceful celebrations of Christmas.
Police have banned bursting of fireworks and firecrackers and flying of lanterns in the capital from midnight on Tuesday to midnight on Wednesday on the occasion of Christmas.
President Mohammed Shahabuddin and his wife Dr Rebeka Sultana hosted a reception ceremony this noon at Bangabhaban's Durbar Hall on the occasion.
The president extended his sincere and warm greetings to the Christians of the country and the people of the world as well.
He also cut a Merry Christmas cake to mark the birthday of Jesus Christ and exchanged greetings with Christian religious leaders and also took part in the photo-session.
