Maungdaw, Arakan State: The holy Eid-ul-Fitr, one of the two biggest religious festivals of Muslims, was celebrated across the country (Burma) including northern Arakan on Saturday (on September 11) after a month-long fasting amid religious fervour and festivity, said a religious leader from Maungdaw Town.

Thousands of Rohingya Muslims attended the Eid-ul-Fitr congregations seeking divine blessings for peace, progress and prosperity of the country as well as the Muslims and non-Muslim people all over the world.

In Maungdaw Town, the main Eid congregation could not be held at the Eidgah midan (ground or field) because of heavy rain.  People held Eid congregations at mosques in Maungdaw and Buthidaung townships.

The authorities adopted security measures for peaceful Eid congregations.

However, on September 12, at about 8 am, some of Burma’s border security forces (Nasaka) of Labazaar out-post camp under the Nasaka area No.6 of Maundaw Township went to the house of Alam of Labazar village, and extorted Kyat 250,000 from him because, at that time, a group of children were having food in his house. They were from the same village. But, the Nasaka alleged they were gambling in the house. So, the Nasaka forcibly fined the house owner, said a local businessman on condition of anonymity.

A village elder said, “How can the children become gamblers while they were having food in the house? Nasaka extorts money from Rohingya people with illogical allegations.”

After the Eid prayers, people including children pay visits from one house to another and take food at the host’s house. It is a tradition of Muslims in Arakan as well as other Muslim and non-Muslim countries. This made Rohingya villagers angry with Nasaka, but, they are unable to do anything.  Muslims celebrate Eid-ul- Fitir for three days.

The holy Eid-ul-Fitr was also celebrated at the Bangladesh refugee camps. But, after Eid prayers, they were barred to go to other refugee camps to meet their relatives and friends, said a refugee leader from Nayapara camp.

Cultural functions, friendly football matches and Eid gatherings of children were not held in northern Arakan because of heavy rain and security reasons, said another local elder.