The historic Sholakia Eidgah Maidan is fully prepared to host its 199th holy Eid-ul-Azha congregation at 9 am on Thursday, under an extensive five-tier security blanket.

According to the district administration, all necessary preparations have been completed to ensure a peaceful and smooth experience for the hundreds of thousands of devotees who travel from across the country every year to join the nation's largest Eid jamaat.

The main congregation will be led by Mufti Abul Khair Mohammad Saifullah, Khatib of Borabazar Jame Mosque, with Maulana Zubair Ibne Abdul Hai, a lecturer at Haibatnagar A.U. Kamil Madrasa, serving as the alternate imam.

Meanwhile, a dedicated separate Eid congregation for women will take place earlier at 8 am on the premises of Suryabala Government Girls' High School.

That prayers will be led by Maulana Mohammad Sanaullah, with Abdul Qayyum, a religious teacher at the Government Boys' High School, acting as the alternate imam.

The extensive security and administrative details were disclosed during separate press briefings on Tuesday afternoon by Sholakia Eidgah Maidan Management Committee President and Deputy Commissioner Sohana Nasrin, District Police Superintendent Mohammad Mizanur Rahman, and RAB-14 CPC-2 Kishoreganj Camp Squadron Leader Md. Ali Noman.

Kishoreganj-1 (Sadar-Hossenpur) Member of Parliament Md. Mazharul Islam also spoke at the briefings regarding the overall arrangements.

Deployment and Surveillance

Deputy Commissioner Sohana Nasrin announced that around 600 police personnel, two platoons of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and 55 Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) members will be stationed in and around the Eidgah ground and throughout the town.

To maximize vigilance, the entire venue has been divided into eight monitoring sectors overseen by nine executive magistrates on duty at key points.

The layout includes four newly installed watchtowers and a network of 64 CCTV cameras spanning the Eidgah premises, complemented by multiple check posts across Kishoreganj town.

Special Transport and Amenities

To assist worshippers coming from distant districts, the government has arranged two special trains:

From Bhairab: Departs at 6 am, arriving in Kishoreganj at 8 am.

From Mymensingh: Departs at 5:30 am, arriving in Kishoreganj at 8:10 am.

Both special trains will begin their return journeys at 12:00 pm (noon).

For the convenience of the massive gathering, the venue will feature 50 temporary ablution (wudu) facilities, 20 permanent toilets, 20 urinals, and two temporary water vans with a capacity of 2,000 litres each.

On-site medical emergency services, including ambulances, essential medicines, and critical equipment, will be active throughout the event.

The Deputy Commissioner strongly urged worshippers not to carry anything other than their prayer mats (jainamaz) into the Eidgah ground, noting that every single devotee will be thoroughly searched at the entry points.

24-Hour Security Protocol

District Superintendent of Police Mohammad Mizanur Rahman confirmed that a comprehensive 24-hour security plan has already gone into effect.

A total of 616 law enforcement personnel are deployed on the ground, supported by 32 check posts, seven archway gates, and 50 metal detectors.

In tandem with the CCTV network, authorities will deploy overhead drones and video cameras to monitor crowd safety.
Specialized security personnel from the CID, PBI, and the Anti-Terrorism Unit will remain on active duty, alongside a bomb disposal unit kept on high standby.

The police chief strictly requested worshippers to leave torchlights, matches, or any other flammable materials at home. Furthermore, mobile phones must be switched to silent mode if brought inside the venue.

RAB-14 CPC-2 Squadron Leader Md. Ali Noman reiterated that RAB has enforced rigorous safety measures to ensure maximum security surrounding the historic field.

Expressing confidence in the high-level coordination, Kishoreganj-1 MP Md. Mazharul Islam stated he remains highly optimistic that this year's Eid-ul-Azha congregation will be observed peacefully and safely, matching the success of the previous Eid-ul-Fitr jamaat.

Additional Superintendent of Police (Administration and Finance) Mukit Sarkar, along with other senior local officials, was also present during the high-level briefings.