
The historic Sholakia Eidgah, renowned for hosting the country’s largest Eid congregation, is fully prepared to welcome devotees for its 199th Eid-ul-Fitr prayers.
To ensure a peaceful and safe environment, law enforcement agencies have implemented a rigorous four-tier security perimeter, bolstered by the deployment of five platoons of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB).
The congregation is scheduled to begin at 10 am, led by Mufti Abul Khair Mohammad Saifullah, the Khatib of Kishoreganj Boro Bazar Mosque. Maulana Zubair Ibn Abdul Hai, a lecturer at Haybatnagar A.U. Kamil Madrasa, will be on standby as the alternative imam.
High-ranking officials, including local MP Md. Mazharul Islam, Deputy Commissioner and Eidgah Management Committee President Mohammad Aslam Molla, and senior officers from RAB and the Police, inspected the grounds on Wednesday to finalize preparations.
Deputy Commissioner Molla confirmed that approximately 1,100 police personnel will be stationed across the venue, supported by multiple checkpoints and six strategic watchtowers managed by the Police and RAB.
Technological surveillance will be a key component of this year's security, featuring comprehensive CCTV coverage, four drone cameras, and six video units.
Specialized units, including bomb disposal squads, sweeping teams, and quick response teams, will be active throughout the event. Additionally, fire service units, six ambulances, and medical teams will remain on standby to address any emergencies.
RAB-14 Commander Naimul Islam stated that monitoring will involve snipers and both uniformed and plainclothes officers, though he clarified that there is currently no specific threat.
For safety reasons, devotees are strictly prohibited from carrying anything onto the grounds except for prayer mats, caps, and mobile phones. Notably, the carrying of umbrellas is also banned this year.
To facilitate the massive influx of people, the railway authorities will operate two "Sholakia Express" special trains on the Kishoreganj-Mymensingh and Bhairab-Kishoreganj routes on Eid day.
The heightened security measures follow a 2016 militant attack near the grounds that claimed four lives. Despite that incident, the number of attendees has continued to grow.
Sholakia’s rich history dates back to its name’s origin—derived from "Soya-Lakhi" (one and a quarter lakh)—referring to the 125,000 devotees who once gathered there under the leadership of Shah Sufi Syed Ahmad. Today, the 4.35-acre site can accommodate roughly 125,000 worshippers across 265 organized rows.



