The Holy Christmas Day will be celebrated by the Christian community across the country as elsewhere in the world today, reports .The day will be observed to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ.(UNB)

The Christian community will celebrate the day by holding special prayers at churches, decorating Christmas trees, distributing gifts especially by Santa Claus among the children and holding family reunion and feast.

The day is a public holiday. Bangladesh Television, Bangladesh Betar and private TV channels will broadcast special programmes and national dailies publish supplements, highlighting the significance of the occasion.

President Professor Dr Iajuddin Ahmed, Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Sheikh Hasina gave separate messages felicitating the Christian community. The President in his message said ideal of great Jesus Christ inspires the mankind to move towards peace and welfare. He said Bangladesh is the country of communal harmony. All will have to uphold this great tradition. The Prime Minister said Jesus Christ worked for establishment of humanity and peace by preaching harmony and forgiveness. His message of humanity and peace would bring peace in this conflict-torn world, she hoped.

Describing Bangladesh as a country of communal harmony, she said people of all religious faiths have been working for the development of the country by maintaining mutual respect and religious tolerance.

The opposition leader said the mission of Jesus Christ was to establish security to life, justice and peace against repression, distress and hungry people. Awami League, she said, is committed to ensure the right of all religious communities to perform their religions independently

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