Christmas celebrated
The holy Christmas, the biggest religious festival of the Christian community, was celebrated on Tuesday in Bangladesh as elsewhere in the world with festivity and enthusiasm commemorating the birthday of Jesus Christ.
According to Christian’s faith, the Xmas is the celebration of rebirth, new beginning, forgiveness and peace, and renewing relationship with God and human beings.
Virgin Mary gave birth to Jesus Christ on the day, which is a public holiday in Bangladesh and most other countries across the world, BSS reports.
On the occasion, President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages by greeting the members of the Christian community.
The Christians in Bangladesh celebrated the Xmas festival with huge enthusiasm and religious fervor and holding special prayers, illuminating churches and installing makeshift Xmas trees at homes and places of worship and missions.
Ringing of church bells in the midnight marked the advent of the day when the followers of the faith welcomed it with carols assembling in churches and other such venues.
Churches and adjoining areas were decked out with colourful tiny blinking lights, while illuminated Christmas trees placed with a star standing right on top as elder people of the community attired in the outfit of Santa Claus made fun with children and distributed gifts as part of a universal Christian practice.
The security was beefed up at different strategic points in the capital and many other places of the country to ensure peaceful celebration of the festival.
President M Abdul Hamid today exchanged greetings with members of the Christian community on the occasion of Christmas Day at Bangabhaban here.
He called upon the people, irrespective of religion, caste and creed to continue country’s ongoing development trend by franchising their voting rights in the next Jatiya Sangsad election slated for December 30.
“Only four days left of the 11th parliamentary election . . . I hope that you all irrespective of religion and caste will exercise your respective voting rights on the day,” the President said.
The head of the state greeted the Christian community on their holy occasion wishing a happy, prosperous and cheerful life in the days to come.
Noting that the country has a long illustrious communal harmony, he said, “This communal harmony has immense contribution to our development and progress.”
Calling Jesus Christ as an ambassador of emancipation and beacon, the President said Jesus Christ had preached the sermons of peace in the world as his philosophy was to establish a peaceful society with full of love, services, forgiveness, compassion and justice.
The President and his spouse Rashida Khanam hosted the reception at the President palace where a Christmas tree was set up with candles lit.
Cardinal Patrick D’Rozario, and dean of diplomatic corp Archbishop George Kocheri, ambassadors and representatives from different foreign missions, distinguished persons of the Christian community, religious leaders and professionals joined the reception.
A group of singers performed the Christmas carols at the reception.
Later, President Hamid cut a Christmas cake with members of the Christian community and joined a photo session with people of Christian community.
