The Christian community of Bangladesh is celebrating Christmas Day today to commemorate the birthday of Jesus Christ as elsewhere in the world.

The day is a public holiday.

Members of the Christian community are thronging churches from the previous evening to mark the beginning of celebration of their greatest religious festival.

Churches have been illuminated, Christmas trees set up and candles lit at homes and churches on the occasion by the Christian community to celebrate the event with due religious fervour.

Santa Claus will distribute, according to the tradition, sweets and gifts to children in churches on the occasion. This is a great `day of days` for children in the Christian community, who sing carols on the occasion in praise of Jesus Christ and God, and exchange gifts.

National dailies will bring out special Christmas supplements marking the day.

Bangladesh Television, Bangladesh Betar and private radio stations and TV channels will also broadcast special Christmas programmes.

Christian community leaders expressed the hope that the spirit of Christmas would play a significant role in establishing the bond of brotherhood and solidarity in the world of today.

They laid emphasis on following the ideals of Jesus Christ in establishing world peace. They expressed the hope that Christmas would bring happiness, prosperity and joy to all irrespective of the rich and the poor.