Christmas Day Today

Today is Christmas Day, the birthday of Jesus Christ, the Jewish preacher and religious leader of the first century.

Christians from various groups across the globe in Bangladesh will celebrate the day in the midst of festivities and religious fervor. 

By offering special prayers, lighting churches and planting makeshift Christmas trees at homes and places of worship and missions across the nation, they will celebrate the day.

As part of a universal Christian tradition, elderly people in the neighborhood, dressed in the outfit of Santa Claus, typically have fun with children and distribute gifts to children.

But due to the COVID-19 pandemic, upholding health laws, including maintaining social distance and wearing masks everywhere, will celebrate the day on a small scale.

The day is a holiday for the public.

On the occasion, President M Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Opposition Leader Jatiya Sangsad Begum Rowshan Ershad invited members of the Christian community in separate messages.

Because of the outbreak of the second spell of the fatal Coronavirus disease that struck several world nations, including Bangladesh, they called on the members of the Christian community to celebrate the holy day keeping the health laws.

In his message, President Hamid called on countries to comply with the rules of health to win the ongoing war coinciding with the Coronavirus pandemic.

Terming the Coronavirus as the global epidemic one, he said this lethal disease has brought human civilization to the brink of an extreme catastrophe in history.

“Bangladesh is not out of it,” the head of the state added.

President Hamid noted that the incumbent government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is effectively dealing with the prevailing Corona situation in Bangladesh, in line with its 31-point guidelines, time-fitting and unrelenting efforts in this regard.

He said Bangladesh is a shining example of worldwide communal peace and the people of the country have been independently practicing their respective faiths, rituals and ceremonies for a long time.

He also urged all to consolidate, regardless of faith, caste and place, the long-standing tradition of religious harmony in the country.

Hamid said Jesus told people in a peaceful place about the commitment of Jesus Christ to humanity with devotion, compassion, forgiveness, affection, empathy and the establishment of justice.

“In the afterlife, Jesus Christ put emphasis on the importance of spiritual happiness through renunciation, restraint, and charity,” he opined.

President Hamid thought that the teachings and ideals of Jesus Christ are very relevant in establishing peace and harmony in a troubled-torn world, including the establishment of harmony and unity among nations.

The President called upon all to work unitedly to build a happy, prosperous and non-communal Bangladesh, envisioned by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in her message, called upon the people irrespective of religion, caste and creed to unite for building

a hunger-and-poverty-free and happy-prosperous ‘Sonar Bangla (Golden Bangladesh)’, being imbued with spirit of the Great Liberation War.

The premier said the COVID-19 infection has currently made the whole world very upset with the World Health Organization (WHO) calling the outbreak as a pandemic.

In this context, she urged everyone to celebrate Christmas this time by maintaining health rules, including the social distancing.

“Let’s pray that the Great Creator makes free our country as well as the nation from this lethal disease,” the prime minister added.

Noting that religion belongs to the respective individual while festivals are for all, Hasina mentioned that “In our constitution,

equal rights of people of all religions and castes have been ensured . . . We jointly fought to make Bangladesh an Independent state and religion is a safe haven for all people here.”

Sheikh Hasina 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.

The great Jesus, she mentioned, scarified himself for the poor and starving people while his ideal lifestyle and strict characteristic remains still immortal in the human history.

Greeting the countrymen, specially the Christians, on the occasion, the head of the government wished for peace, welfare and prosperity of all citizens.

In separate message, leader of the Opposition in the Jatiya Sangsad Begum Rowshan Ershad extended heartfelt greetings and congratulations to the country people, especially the Christians on the occasion.

She said the air of peace would spread in the lives of all people across the globe by forgetting communalism, violence and discrimination in the society.

“This religious festival will build solidarity among people of all faiths and strengthen the bondage of the world brotherhood,” the

opposition leader hoped.

Churches in the capital will be illuminated on the holy day, Christmas trees set up and candles lit by the Christian community at homes and churches to mark the event amid religious fervour.

Santa Clause will distribute sweets and presents to children in churches on the occasion, according to custom. This is 'a great one,'

Children's day in the Christian world, who sing carols on the occasion to celebrate and exchange gifts for Jesus Christ and God.

The national dailies will publish special articles highlighting the importance of the Christmas. Bangladesh Television, Bangladesh Betar and private radio stations and TV channels will air special programmes marking the festival.