Tazia processions marking holy Ashura were held peacefully in the capital on Sunday amid strict security measures taken by Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP).
The main mourning procession of the Shia community began at 10am from the historic Hussaini Dalan in Old Dhaka, with thousands of participants walking barefoot, beating their chests and chanting “Hay Hussein, Hay Hussein” in remembrance.
The procession moved through Bakshibazar Lane, Lalbagh, Shaheed Mazar Road, Azimpur, Nilkhet, Mirpur Road, Dhaka College, Science Laboratory, Dhanmondi Residential Area, BGB Gate No 4 and Satmasjid Road, before ending at the symbolic Karbala point on the banks of Dhanmondi Lake.
Earlier ahead of the procession, DMP had imposed a ban on carrying sharp weapons such as knives, daggers, scissors, spears, lances, swords, and sticks, as well as the use of fireworks and firecrackers.
The 10th of Muharram, observed as Ashura, holds deep religious significance for Muslims across the world.
The Shia community commemorates the martyrdom of Imam Hussein through various rituals, with the Tazia procession being a central part of the observance.
In Dhaka, major mourning processions and events were organised by the Shia community from the historic Hussaini Dalan Imambara in Lalbagh, Boro Katara Imambara, and other locations across the city.