DHAKA: Eid-ul Fitr, the biggest religious festival of the Muslims, will be celebrated across the country Saturday amid a festive mood.

Preparations are complete for holding Eid-ul-Fitr jamaats in the capital and other districts across the country. Muslims across the world will seek divine blessings, peace, progress and prosperity in Eid congregations.

The main Eid congregation will be held at the National Eidgah on the High Court premises at 8:30am. Five congregations will be held at the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque at 8:00, 9:00, 10:00, 11:00am and 12noon, said the Islamic Foundation.

The country`s biggest Eid congregation will be held, as usual, at Sholakhia Eidgah in Kishoreganj.

As the Shawal moon was not sighted anywhere in the country on Thursday evening, the National Moon-sighting Committee informed that the Eid would be celebrated Saturday in the country, this time after full 30 days` fasting during the lunar month of Ramadan.

Thousands of people have already left the capital to celebrate the Eid with their loved ones. Launches, buses and trains leaving Dhaka for various destinations have been crowded far beyond their capacity since Thursday. Even, some people are still on their way home for tremendous pre-eid rush.

People have already completed their Eid shopping. Major shopping malls of the capital are comparatively calm now than last few days` brouhaha amid a buying binge circumventing sky-high price rises.

President Zillur Rahman and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in separate messages greeted the countrymen and the Muslim ummah nations on the occasion.

Leader of the Opposition and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad also greeted the people on the occasion of the Eid.

Besides, leaders of different political and socio-cultural organizations in their messages greeted the people.

The national parliament building has already been illuminated with lights marking the day. The national flag will be hoisted atop government and non-government offices on the occasion. Main city streets are being decorated with miniature flags and buntings inscribed with "Eid Mubarak" in Bengali and Arabic.

Special diets will be served in hospitals, jails, government-run children and shelter homes, socially handicapped and vagabond welfare centres and shelter homes for the destitute.

Bangladesh Betar and Bangladesh Television as well as private television channels and radio stations are broadcasting special programmes on this occasion for the entertainment of people on the eid vacation.

The Shishu Park will remain open for the underprivileged children on Eid day.

President Zillur Rahman will exchange greetings with invited guests at Bangabhaban in the morning. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will also exchange greetings with political leaders of different parties, diplomats from foreign countries in Dhaka and people from all walks of life at Ganabhaban.

Leader of the opposition and BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia will exchange Eid greetings with foreign diplomats and country’s elite at Ladies Club in the city`s Eskatan Garden area. She will also exchange greetings with her party faithful at her Gulsan office in the evening.

Every year, Eid comes at the end of a month-long fasting and abstinence in fulfilment of a cardinal Islamic tenet. Muslims, rich or poor, wait fervently for this very day.

BDST: 1637 HRS, SEP 10, 2010.