All preparations are complete to celebrate Eid-ul-Azha, one of the two biggest religious festivals of Muslims, on Monday across Bangladesh with religious fervour.
Eid-ul-Azha is celebrated on the 10th day of the Dhu al-Hijjah month of the Hizri calendar as Prophet Ibrahim, on this day some 4,500 years ago offered to sacrifice his beloved son Prophet Ismail, who willingly submitted to the will of his father to please Allah.
But the Almighty Allah in His benign mercy spared Prophet Ismail and instead sent a ram to be sacrificed.
To commemorate this historic event, Muslims across the country, and the world, will offer prayers in congregations and sacrifice animals in the name of Allah.
They will also pray for peace, progress and prosperity in the country as well as the welfare of the Muslim Ummah.
The main Eid congregation will be held at the National Eidgah near the High Court in Dhaka at 7:30am. The Dhaka South City Corporation has taken all-out preparations for the holding of the main congregation.
Five Eid congregations will be held at the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque. The first will be at 7am and the next four at 8am, 9am, 10am and 10:45am.
Baitul Mukarram National Mosque Pesh Imam (a leader at prayer) Hafez Maulana Ehsanul Haque will conduct the first Eid jamaat, while the Mosque's muezzin (retd) Hafez Kwari Md Ataur Rahman will perform the duty of muqabbir in the prayer.
Pesh Imam Maulana Muhiuddin Kasem will conduct the second jamaat, while the other three jamaats will be led by Mawlana Dr Abu Saleh Patowari, Jameya Arabia Mirpur Muhtamim Maulana Syed Wahiduzzaman and the Islamic Foundation's Imam Maulana Mufti Mohammad Abdullah, respectively.
If any imam is unable to conduct an Eid jamaat, High Court Mazar Mosque Imam Hafez Md Ashraful Islam will lead that congregation as an alternate imam.
An Eid jamaat will be held at the south plaza of parliament at 8am. The chief whip, whips, cabinet members, lawmakers, Parliament Secretariat officials, employees and other Muslims will join the jamaat there.
At Dhaka University, Eid congregations will be held at the central mosque.
Besides, an Eid congregation will also be held at the historic Sholakia ground in Kishoreganj.
Security measures have been taken by law enforcement agencies to ensure law and order across the country, including the capital Dhaka, marking Eid-ul-Azha. Officers have also been asked to ensure smooth movement of vehicles on highways, waterways and train routes.
State-run Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar, as well as other TV channels and radio stations, will broadcast special programs on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha.
On Eid day, special foods will be served to inmates as well as people at orphanages, safe homes and shelter centres.
Meanwhile, the Dhaka south and north city corporations have made preparations to remove sacrificial animal waste within 24 hours. They have requested the residents of the city to extend cooperation to their officials and employees in order to get Dhaka cleaned up properly.
