Christmas celebrated across country

The Christian community on Wednesday celebrated the Christmas Day in Bangladesh with festivity and religious fervour commemorating the birthday of Jesus Christ as elsewhere in the world.
The Christian people offered special prayers on the day illuminating churches and installing makeshift Christmas trees at homes, places of worship and Christian missions, reports BSS.
Men in Santa Claus costumes distributed sweets and gifts among children in churches following tradition on the occasion. Charismas carols were sung praising Jesus Christ and God.
Various programmes were arranged in the day of the public holiday to celebrate Christmas Day in all churches, including St. Mary's Cathedral Church in city's Kakrail area and in famous city hotels such as InterContinental, Pan Pacific Sonargaon, The Westin and Radisson.
In separate messages on the occasion, President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Professor Muhammad Yunus, chief adviser, greeted members of the Christian community.
They wished peace, welfare, and prosperity for all citizens of the country.
President Shahabuddin, in his message, said Bangladesh is a country of communal harmony as all people have been practicing their religions and rituals independently in this country for long.
About Jesus Christ's contribution to society, the president said Jesus taught people to be in a peaceful position showing love, compassion, forgiveness, affection, empathy, and work for the establishment of justice.
Professor Muhammad Yunus, in his message, also hoped that Christmas will further strengthen the existing camaraderie and harmony between Christians and other communities in the country.
He said, "People of all religions, regardless of race, religion, or caste, have lived together in harmony in this country for thousands of years. People of all religions and communities have ultimate freedom to practice their own religion here."
The national dailies published special articles highlighting the importance of Christmas.
Bangladesh Television, Bangladesh Betar, private radio stations and TV channels aired special programmes marking the festival.
The government maintained nationwide tight security for peaceful celebrations of the Christmas Day.
Police have banned using fireworks, firecrackers and flying of lanterns for celebration in the capital in the 24 hours to Wednesday's midnight.
President Mohammed Shahabuddin and his wife Dr Rebeka Sultana hosted a reception ceremony this noon 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 as well.
He also cut a Merry Christmas cake to mark the birthday of Jesus Christ.
He exchanged greetings with Christian religious leaders and also took part in the photo-session.
President's wife Dr Rebecca Sultana, Dr A F M Khalid Hossain, Religious Affairs adviser; Bishop Bejoy Nicephorus D'Cruze; Kevin S Randell, Vatican City ambassador and some other envoys, Nirmal Rozario, president, Bangladesh Christians Association; Father Albert Rozario and Reverest Martha Das, secretaries concerned, representatives from different foreign missions, distinguished persons of the Christian community, and religious leaders attended the reception.
Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus also exchanged greetings with representatives of the Christian community on the occasion of Christmas Day at the State Guest House Jamuna.
Adviser Mr. Hossain conducted the function while Bishop D'Cruze; Bishop Philip P. Adhikary, chairman of National Christian Fellowship of Bangladesh; Mr Rosario; Ignatius Hemant Corraya, secretary general of the Bangladesh Christian Association; and Daniel Nirmal D'Costa, president of Bangladesh Christian Mohajote; spoke, among others, on the occasion.
Christian leaders especially thanked the interim government for donating Tk25 million to the Christian Religious Welfare Trust on Christmas.
The Christian faith leaders said the donation was distributed to all churches across the country.
Christian leaders gifted a copy of Bible to the chief adviser.
Extending his greetings to the members of the Christmas community, Prof Yunus said he was very pleased to meet with the Christian leaders.
Professor Dr Asif Nazrul, Law adviser; Adilur Rahman Khan, Industries adviser; and Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Environment, Forest and Climate Change adviser were present on the occasion.
Leaders of Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad (BPUP) greeted members of the Christian community as well as the countrymen to mark Christmas Day.
In a message, Basudev Dhar, BPUP president, and Santhosh Sharma, general secretary of BPUP, said Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem on this day, and one of his vows was to establish a society free from exploitation by establishing justice and peace in the world.