In line with Saudi Arabia, followers of Mirzakhil Darbar Sharif in Chattogram’s Satkania upazila are celebrating the Eid-ul-Fitr on Friday.
The main Eid congregation was held at the Khanqah grounds of Mirzakhil Darbar Sharif around 9:30am on Friday. The prayers were led by the Sajjadanashin, Maulana Muhammad Maqsudur Rahman. Devotees began gathering from early morning, creating a festive atmosphere throughout the area.
According to local sources, the community people offered Eid prayers simultaneously in more than a hundred villages across the northern and southern parts of Chattogram. A large number of devotees from various districts, including the hill tracts, also joined the celebrations.
According to Darbar sources, for nearly 250 years, followers of Mirzakhil Darbar Sharif have observed fasting, Eid-ul-Fitr, Eid-ul-Adha, and all lunar-based religious practices according to the Hanafi school, relying on moon sightings from anywhere in the world.
This tradition began about 250 years ago when Hazrat Maulana Mokhlesur Rahman Jahangir (Q.) of Mirzakhil village in Sonakania union issued a fatwa that religious observances should be based on moon sightings from any part of the world. Since then, his followers have adhered to this practice.
Followers of Mirzakhil Darbar celebrated Eid not only in villages across Satkania upazila including Garangia, Sonakania, Chotohatia, Asaratli, Sairatli, Aochia, Khagria, Chadaha, Gatiadenga, and Bajalia unions, Kalaujan, Barahatia, Putibila, Charamba, Chunati, Jaliapara, Chhanua, Mokharchar, Chambal, Shekherkhil, Dengra, Toilardwip, Kalipur, Haidgaon, Bahuli, Vellapara, Mahmudabad, Baraidala, Bashbaria, Salimpur, and Mahalangka.
In addition, followers in many other areas also are celebrating the Eid in the same way, including Mirsharai, Boalkhali, Hathazari, Raozan, and Fatikchhari in Chattogram; Teknaf, Maheshkhali, and Kutubdia in Cox’s Bazar; Lama, Alikadam, and Naikhyangchhari in Bandarban; as well as villages in Feni, Rangamati, Cumilla, Dhaka, Munshiganj, Kishoreganj, Narsingdi, Kapasia in Gazipur, Chandpur, Sylhet, Habiganj, Sunamganj, Noakhali, Barishal, Patuakhali, Chuadanga, and Bhola.
