The community sources said the nearly five lakh Bangladeshi followers of Christianity, mostly divided in Catholic and Protestant groups, would celebrate their greatest religious festival in different areas.
Relatively elder people of the community attired in the outfit of Santa Claus make fun with children and distribute gifts as part of a universal Christian practice.
In suburban Dohar-Nababganj, where 18 villages have cent percent Christian population, the community members prepare and distribute traditional winter cakes while they provide money to poorer people of the community through churches to enable them to join the festival with equal festivity.
President Zillur Rahman will host a reception for the community at Bangabhaban tomorrow.
The President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued statements greeting the Christians of the country on the eve of the day and calling for upholding the tradition of religious harmony.
"Great men appeared in different ages to preach the greatness of the almighty creator and make the earth an abode of peace promoting mutual respect and love. Jesus Christ was one of them," he said.
The President added that the ideals and sacrifice of Jesus Christ inspired the people to follow the path of peace and
welfare.
President Zillur Rahman praised the contribution of the Christian community to the development of education and society in the country.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the goal of Jesus Christ was to establish justice and peace in the world while his entire life was dedicated to bringing a sense of relief in human lives.
"He remained as an immortal figure for his lifestyle and qualities of character," she said.
The Christmas Day celebrations, however, began today this evening with Archbishop Paulinus Costa inaugurating the festival cutting cakes at St. Mary's Cathedral at Kakrail in Dhaka as churches and missions across the country organised programmes elsewhere in the country.
"We'll work together for the welfare of Bangladesh. Let this be our firm pledge," the archbishop told the function.
Presidents of Bangladesh Hindu-Bouddha-Christian Oikya Parishad Major General (retired) C R Dutta, Bir Uttam, Advocate Cyril Sikder and Ushatan Talukdar and acting general secretary Satyendra Chandra Bhakta conveyed felicitations to the country's Christian community on happy Christmas.
General Secretary of Bangladesh Chhatra-Jubo-Oikya Parishad Nirmal Kumar Chatterjee expressed best wishes to the country's Christian community on this occasion.
The day is a public holiday.
-BSS
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