The Christian community celebrated Christmas Day in Bangladesh, as elsewhere in the world, with festivity and religious fervor, commemorating the birthday of Jesus Christ on Wednesday.
The Christian people offered special prayers on the day, illuminating churches and installing makeshift Christmas trees at homes, places of worship and missions.
Elderly people in the community, dressed as Santa Claus, typically to make fun with children and distribute gifts as part of a universal Christian tradition.
Various programs were arranged to celebrate Christmas Day in all churches, including St Mary’s Cathedral Church in the city’s Kakrail area and in famous city hotels such as 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 peace, welfare and prosperity for all citizens, including Christians, of the country.
President Shahabuddin, in his message, said that Bangladesh is a country of communal harmony where all people have been practicing their religions and rituals independently for a long time.
Regarding Jesus Christ’s contribution to society, Shahabuddin said: “Jesus taught people to live in peace with love, compassion, forgiveness, affection, empathy and the establishment of justice.”
Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, in his message, hoped that Christmas would further strengthen the existing camaraderie and harmony between Christians and other communities in the country.
“For thousands of years, he said that 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 homes and churches by the Christian community to celebrate the event amid religious fervor.
Following tradition, Santa Claus distributed sweets and gifts to children in churches on the occasion.
This was a ‘great day’ for children in the Christian community as they received 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 programs marking the festival.
The government maintained tight security nationwide for the peaceful celebration of Christmas Day.
Police banned the bursting of fireworks and firecrackers, as well as the flying of lanterns in the capital, from midnight on Tuesday to midnight on Wednesday for the occasion of Christmas.
President Mohammed Shahabuddin and his wife Dr Rebeka Sultana hosted a reception 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.
He also cut a Merry Christmas cake to mark the birthday of Jesus Christ.
He exchanged greetings with Christian religious leaders and participated in a photo session.
Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus exchanged greetings with representatives of the Christian community on the occasion of Happy Christmas Day at the State Guest House Jamuna on Tuesday.
Christian leaders specially thanked the interim government for donating tk2.5 crore to the Christian Religious Welfare Trust on the occasion of Christmas.
The Christian faith leaders said that the donation was distributed to all churches across the country.
Christian leaders presented a copy of the Bible to the chief adviser.
Extending his greetings to the members of the Christian community, Prof Yunus said that he was very pleased to meet with the Christian leaders.
Law Adviser Professor Dr Asif Nazrul, Industries Adviser Adilur Rahman Khan and Environment, Forest and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan were present on the occasion.
Leaders of Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad (BPUP) on Tuesday greeted members of the Christian community as well as the countrymen, marking Christmas Day.
In a message, BPUP President Basudev Dhar and General Secretary Santhosh Sharma said that Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem on this day and one of his vows was to establish a society free from exploitation by promoting justice and peace in the world.