DHAKA: Christmas Day, the biggest religious festival of the Christian community, is being celebrated across the country on Wednesday with proper religious fervor and solemnity.
Though Christmas day is completely a religious festival of Christian community but several communities observe the day with great fanfare.
On the occasion of Christmas various churches and star hotel of capital were decorated gorgeously.
To ensure the security of Christians, from home and abroad, three-tier security measures has been taken.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) sources said that police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and Border Guard
Bangladesh (BGB) personnel and plain dressed detectives were deployed in various spots.
President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages greeting the Christians of the country on the occasion.
The President said, “Great men appeared in different ages to preach the greatness of the almighty creator and make the earth an abode of peace promoting mutual respect and love. Jesus Christ was one of them".
"The ideals and sacrifice of Jesus Christ inspired the people to follow the path of peace and welfare," he added.
The President praised the contribution of the Christian community to the development of education and society in the country.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina exchanged Xmas greetings with Christian community at the Gonobhaban at 5.30pm Tuesday.
Sheikh Hasina said the goal of Jesus Christ was to establish justice and peace in the world while his entire life was dedicated to bring a sense of relief in human lives.
"He remains as an immortal figure for his lifestyle and qualities of character," she said.
Christmas is an annual commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ and a widely observed cultural holiday, celebrated in Western Christianity on December 25 by millions of people around the world.
A feast central to the Christian liturgical year, it closes the Advent season and initiates the twelve days of
Christmastide, which ends after the twelfth night.
BDST: 1112 HRS, DEC 25, 2013
Edited by: SM. Mostafijur Rahman Nasim, Newsroom Editor / Rubaiat Saky, Senior Newsroom Editor