An exceptional Eid for many parents

Eid is an occasion of boundless joy and happiness. It is also one of the saddest moments for those loving parents who are being forced to celebrate the Eid without their sons and daughters around them amid the coronavirus outbreak.

This Eid-ul-Fitr, the biggest religious festival for Muslims in Bangladesh and beyond, has turned out to be a different Eid amid the pandemic.

For Sajeda Begum, this is the loneliest Eid-ul-Fitr without her children and their families.

One of her sons, a physician at a public hospital, is engaged in treating novel coronavirus patients while his wife is also spending busy time at Chittagong Medical College Hospital.

"They used to come to my place early morning on the Eid day. They couldn't come because of what they’re doing now. I don't want them to visit me as they’re doing something for greater good," Sajeda, who is well aware of the coronavirus situation in the country, told news agency UNB.

She said two of her sons got stuck in Dhaka amid current restrictions and could not join her in Chattogram.

"My youngest son, a bank official, worked during the government-announced general holiday. He and his family members couldn't travel back to Chattogram like previous Eids," Sajeda, a mother of five sons and four daughters, said.

Her daughters are married but she at least got her five sons together during Eid with a host of grandchildren. There is a deviation this time.

Many parents like Sajeda Begum are spending this Eid without their family members around with COVID-19 casting a shadow on the joyous occasion.

Sohel Hossain, a young journalist working in Dhaka, is spending Eid away from his parents for the first time.

"I didn't take any risk. I might be a silent carrier of coronavirus, who knows? That's why I didn't go home. Secondly, I don't have my own car," said Hossain adding that it is painful to spend Eid without family.

Afsana Rahman Shorna was supposed to be in Barishal with her father, mother and youngest sister Fiha.

"To me, Eid means going home despite all the troubles on the way. During my childhood, I remember celebrating Eid in Dhaka once as my mother came here for her health check up," she told UNB.

Shorna said her husband is now abroad for higher studies and she is in Dhaka.

"Despite all the sadness around, we’re all well. That's the mental satisfaction. I pray for everyone today. My prayers are for them who got infected with coronavirus," she said sharing her experience of a completely different Eid.

The death toll from coronavirus now stands at 501 (as of Monday). The total number of infected has reached 35,585. Meanwhile, 7,334 people recovered until Monday.

It is also a different Eid for those who lost their near and dear ones due to the coronavirus outbreak and other health related complexities.

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina has stressed on following health guidelines amid the COVID-19 outbreak to stay safe.

"Your safety is in your hands. Remember that if you remain safe, you are also keeping your family, neighbours and the country safe," she said ahead of Eid celebration in a televised speech.

Sajeda, who turns 78, said this is the only Eid without any guest at her residence.

"My sons and grandchildren took my blessings immediately after Eid congregation," she said, adding that the absence of her family members was saddening.

Many from the young generation connected with family members through video calls, giving a feeling of virtual reunion demonstrating that physical distance sometimes does not matter.

Sajeda said she wishes to see everyone safe in this difficult time, hoping that the bad days will pass.

"I pray that such Eid never comes again," she said.