National
Eid-e-Miladunnabi: A Day of Spiritual Significance and Reflection
The revered occasion of Eid-e-Miladunnabi, commemorating both the birth and passing of Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (SM), will be observed nationwide today with the utmost religious reverence.
This decision was formalized during a meeting of the National Moon Sighting Committee convened at the Islamic Foundation (IF) Conference Room within the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque on September 15. The meeting was presided over by Md. Abdul Hamid Jamaddar, Secretary of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, as per an official press release.
The announcement explained, “As the moon of Rabiul Awal of 1445 Hijri was not sighted in the sky of Bangladesh today, the holy month of Rabiul Awal will commence on September 17 (Sunday).”
On this auspicious day, which corresponds to the 12th of Rabiul Awal in the Hijri calendar, the Prophet Muhammad (SM) was born in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, in the year 570. His birth brought divine blessings and messages of peace for humanity, and it is also the day he passed away.
This day holds the status of a public holiday in recognition of its spiritual significance.
To mark the holy Eid-e-Miladunnabi, the Islamic Foundation has arranged a series of vibrant programs spanning four nights.
The State Minister for Religious Affairs, Md. Faridul Haque Khan, inaugurated these programs as the chief guest at the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque.
Before this, the minister also inaugurated a month-long Islamic book fair in the south chattar (courtyard) of the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque following Asr prayers.
The Islamic Foundation has organized various other events, including Qur’an Khani and doa-mahfil (prayer gatherings), a 15-day Waz (religious discourse), milad (celebrations of the Prophet’s birth), and doa-mahfil at the mausoleum of the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, in Tungipara, Gopalganj.
Additionally, there will be seminars, Islamic cultural competitions, Arabic sermon writing competitions, Qirat-mahfil (Qur’an recitation gatherings), Hamd-Naat (religious hymns), and poetry recitations. The festivities will also feature an Islamic calligraphy exhibition, a month-long Islamic book fair, and the publication of special memorabilia and supplements.
Furthermore, numerous programs have been arranged across all divisional and district offices of the Islamic Foundation, 50 Islamic Missions, and seven Imam Training Academies in honor of the holy Eid-e-Miladunnabi.
In conjunction with this significant occasion, the Cultural Centre of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Dhaka will host a discussion on ‘Prophet of Islam (SM) as the Axis of Islamic Unity’ at the Kabi Sufia Kamal Auditorium of the Bangladesh National Museum. The event is scheduled for 3:30 pm on Friday, September 29.
Md. Faridul Haque Khan, MP, State Minister for the Ministry of Religious Affairs, will preside as the chief guest, and esteemed guests including the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Bangladesh and the Pro-Vice Chancellor of the Islamic Arabic University, Dhaka, will be in attendance.
Kendrio Bangabandhu Shishu Kishore Mela will also organize a Hamd-Naat and Qirat competition involving students from schools and madrasahs at the Tungipara upazila auditorium to celebrate the holy Eid-e-Miladunnabi. The event will be graced by Sheikh Tozammel Haque Tutul, Mayor of Tungipara Municipality, as the chief guest.
On Monday (December 04), Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina emphasized the importance of environmental preservation in all development plans. During a meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office, she urged authorities to prioritize waste management and water flow maintenance in city planning.
PM expressed regret over past unplanned development, particularly during the illegal assumption of power in 1975, which neglected environmental concerns and led to river encroachments.
She highlighted her government’s commitment to protecting rivers, restoring navigability, and preventing pollution. Hasina recalled initiating river dredging during her first term and stressed the need for ongoing efforts to combat river erosion. The Prime Minister addressed the issue of industries and sewage lines dumping waste into rivers, causing increased pollution, citing the unpleasant state of the Buriganga River.
Emphasizing waste management as a top priority, Hasina suggested establishing small treatment plants across Dhaka to safeguard the capital’s rivers. She underscored the necessity of preserving Bangladesh’s rivers despite the inevitability of floods and emphasized creating buffer zones along rivers for water preservation during the rainy season.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud presented the prestigious ‘Asia Climate Mobility Champion Leader Award’ to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her official residence, Ganabhaban, in the morning. The award was initially received on behalf of the Prime Minister by Dr. Hasan Mahmud and the Head of the Bangladesh delegation during the high-level segment of COP28.
Acknowledging Prime Minister Hasina’s exemplary leadership in championing climate actions and advocating for vulnerable communities globally, the Global Centre for Climate Mobility, supported by IOM and the UN system, conferred the award during a significant high-level panel on the sidelines of COP28 in Dubai on December 1. The event, co-hosted by the President of the UN General Assembly, Ambassador Dennis Francis, and the Director General of IOM, Amy Pope, highlighted the urgency of climate-forced migration and displacement.
During the UNGA78 Climate Mobility Summit, Prime Minister Hasina emphasized the critical issue of climate-induced migration. The recognition through this award is a testament to her continuous efforts and Bangladesh’s advocacy in addressing climate mobility challenges.
In addition to Prime Minister Hasina, other countries such as Botswana, Suriname, and Palau were also honored, representing Africa and the Pacific. The Global Centre for Climate Mobility actively collaborates with the United Nations system, regional intergovernmental organizations, and development finance institutions to find cooperative and comprehensive solutions for climate mobility.
The award ceremony is part of a series initiated during COP27, where five African Heads of State and Government were honored as Climate Mobility Champion Leaders.
Bangladesh has emerged victorious in the International Maritime Organization (IMO) council election 2023 in category C, securing 128 votes out of the 175-member council. This marks the first time Bangladesh has won in the highly competitive category C of the IMO, as reported by the Bangladesh mission in London.
Following the election results, Bangladesh High Commissioner to the UK and Permanent Representative to the IMO, Saida Muna Tasneem, expressed gratitude to IMO members for electing Bangladesh as a Council member. She reiterated Bangladesh’s commitment to the IMO’s charter of actions for dealing with maritime affairs. Tasneem extended thanks to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Shipping in Bangladesh, specifically acknowledging Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for her decision to participate in the IMO council election in 2023.
“Bangladesh’s election to the International Maritime Organisation’s elite 40-member council is a testimony of the confidence and trust that the IMO member states and the International Maritime Community place in Bangladesh’s leadership as a maritime nation, led by the prudent leadership of our Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina,” stated the Bangladesh envoy.
Previously, Tasneem was elected by consensus as the Vice President of the 33rd assembly of the IMO during which the election took place.
The IMO, as the only UN specialized body, regulates global shipping standards that impact ship-operating flag states, seafarers, and maritime safety, security, and marine pollution.
Bangladesh, heavily reliant on international trade, with 90 percent conducted via the sea, aims to address key issues such as the transition of maritime ports into green and digitalized entities and compliance with the Hong Kong convention on ship recycling and the use of greener fuels. These matters will be on Dhaka’s negotiation agenda at the IMO council during the term 2024-25.
