Imam Fariduddin Masud replaced for Eid prayers at Sholakia

Post the blast at Sholakia Eidgah, famous for the largest congregation on Eid day, prayers were performed without Imam Fariduddin Masud, who was scheduled to lead the congregation.

Masud was replaced by Imam Maulana Shoaib of Kishoreganj Boro Mosjid.

Imam Fariduddin Masud had reached the Sholakia Eidgah via a helicopter before the attack was carried out near at around 9:45 a.m. After the attack, he did not lead the Eid congregation and was flown back to Dhaka safely, said Additional Superintendent of Kishoreganj Police Abu Sayem.

The Eid day prayers began with the customary blank fires and were attended by tens of thousands of Muslims.

Masud had led an Imam group of 100,000 to declare a Fatwa in January against militancy using the name of Islam to carry out terror activities and supported the government's campaign against violent extremism, reports the Daily Star.

Before and after that campaign, many individuals - secular and progressive in nature and members from the religious minority groups - were killed in covert attacks claimed by the Islamic State and al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent.

Today's attack at Sholakia in Kishoreganjwhich comes days after the Dhaka terror attack killing 20 people including foreigners, killed four people including two policemen, a woman and a suspected assailant.