DHAKA, Dec 24, 2019 (BSS)-The Christmas Day will be celebrated in Bangladesh tomorrow amid festivity and religious fervour as elsewhere in the world commemorating the birthday of Jesus Christ.
The Christians of different groups will celebrate the day by offering special prayers, illuminating churches and installing makeshift Christmas trees at homes and places of worship and missions across the country.
Elderly people of the community, attired in the outfit of Santa Claus, make fun with children and distribute gifts among kids as part of a universal Christian practice.
The day is a public holiday.
President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in separate messages greeted members of the Christian community on this occasion.
In his message, President Hamid called upon all to consolidate the long-standing tradition of religious harmony in the country irrespective of religion, caste and position.
Noting that Bangladesh is a bright instance of communal harmony, he said people with different beliefs observe their own religion, rituals and programmes freely and Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman dreamed of a non- communal Bangladesh.
He said Jesus Christ had invited the derailed people to the path of truth and justice for establishing peace in the world.
“Jesus taught the path of love for people, forgiveness, affection, compassion, how to establish justice and peaceful coexistence in the society,” he added.
He called upon all to work together to build a happy, prosperous and non-communal Bangladesh.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in her message, called upon the people irrespective of religion, caste and creed to come forward to expedite the development activities in the country and its people being imbued with mankind.
“One of the goals of Jesus Christ was to establish justice and peace in the world . . . Great Christ had sacrificed himself for the endangered and hungry people and he remains immortal in the human history for his noble way of life and unique character,” she said.
People of all classes, she said, are enjoying full freedom in exercising their respective religious activities.
She called upon all to work together, maintain the bondage of communal harmony to build a hunger-free prosperous Bangladesh ad dreamt by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Churches in the capital have been illuminated, Christmas trees set up and candles lit at homes and churches by the Christian community to celebrate the event amid religious fervour.
According to the tradition, Santa Clause will distribute sweets and gifts among children in churches on the occasion. This is a ‘great day’ for children in the Christian community, who sing carols on the occasion in praise of Jesus Christ and God, and exchange gifts.
The national dailies will publish special articles highlighting the importance of the Christmas.
Bangladesh Television, Bangladesh Betar and private radio stations and TV channels will air special programmes marking the festival.