All preparations have been taken in some north-western districts, including Panchagar and Thakurgaon to observe the total solar eclipse this morning. A festive mood has been prevailing everywhere in the region and thousands of people are awaiting eagerly to observe the solar eclipse.

A large number of scientists, specially young ones and curious people from different parts of the country are gathering in the northwestern region Thakurgaon and Panchagar to see the event.

The longest solar eclipse in the twenty-first century will be visible from a narrow corridor in northern India, eastern Nepal, northern Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar's northern tip, central China and the Pacific Ocean.

In Bangladesh, the partial eclipse will start to be visible at 6:58:18am, Bangladesh daylight saving time, the total eclipse will occur at 7:51:16am, central eclipse at 7:54:31am and the greatest eclipse at 9:35:21am.

The district administration of Panchagarh, which is the best possible place for viewing of the eclipse, has taken all possible preparations to observe the total solar eclipse. The total eclipse of the sun could be viewed from Panchagarh for 3 minutes and 59 seconds.

The Bangladesh Astronomical Association has set up an observation camp at Tentulia in Panchagarh to view the longest total solar eclipse of this century. Panchagar district administration led by Deputy Commissioner (DC) Barnamali Bhoumik has formed an solar eclipse observation committee to help people who will be visiting the place from different parts of the country. A security control room has also been opened in the DC's office to maintain law and order during the period.

The total solar eclipse can be seen from Panchagarh, Thakurgaon, Dinajpur, Nilphamari, Rangpur and some other northern districts. But the duration of total sun eclipse will be different at different areas. In Panchagarh the duration will be 4 minutes, in Thakurgaon 3 minutes and 30 seconds, in Dinajpur 3 minutes.

The longest duration of solar eclipse will be 5 minutes and 56 seconds in Hangjhu province of China. The next total solar eclipse will take place in Bangladesh after 105 years.

National Museum of Science and Technology (NMST) and Bangladesh Astronomical Society have taken all out preparations to make the observation of the solar eclipse through solar filters at different camps in Dhaka City a success.

The NMST has set up its main camp in Panchagarh Stadium Besides another camp was set up on a road in front of Music University and Statistics Bhaban at city's Agargaon. The camp will be kept open for public. As part of the last minute preparation, a huge rally led by Dr AR Khan, president of Bangladesh Astronomical Society was brought out in the town yesterday to encourage people to observe the event.

Besides, huge numbers of colourful posters on the solar eclipse were pasted on the walls and leaflets distributed miking continued till midnight with a call to enjoy the greatest opportunity moment of the century. Organisers hoped that over 50,000 people will observe the solar eclipse from the Boro Math.

Experts say the solar eclipse should not be seen with necked eyes since it will seriously damage eyesight with a danger of permanent blindness. Anusandhistsu Chakkra, a science club, has distributed thousands of spectacles among the people to see the eclipse.

-New Nation