Muslims across Bangladesh are celebrating the holy Eid-ul-Azha, the second biggest religious festival, on Thursday with due solemnity and religious fervour amid the incessant rain since morning.
Eid-ul-Azha is celebrated on the 10th of Zil Hajj month of the Hizri calendar as Hazrat Ibrahim (AS), on this day, some 4,500 years ago, offered to sacrifice his beloved son Hazrat Ismail (AS), who willingly submitted to the will of his father to please Allah.
But the Almighty Allah in His benign mercy spared Hazrat Ismail (AS) and instead sent a ram to be sacrificed.
To commemorate this historic event, the Muslims across the country are offering prayers in congregations and sacrificing animals in the name of Almighty Allah.
They also offered munajat seeking divine blessings for peace, progress and prosperity of the country as well as welfare of the Muslim Ummah.
President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages, greeting the Muslims in Bangladesh and all over the world on the occasion of the Eid-ul-Azha.
The main Eid congregation was held at the National Eidgah near the High Court Bhaban at 7:30am. The DSCC had adequate preparation to hold the main congregation at the National Eidgah despite inclement weather condition.
Eid congregation was also held at the historic Sholakia ground in Kishoreganj.
A total of five Eid congregations is being held at the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque.
The first Eid jamaat was held at 7am while the next four Jamaats will be held at 8am, 9am, 10am and 10:45am respectively, said a press release.
Adequate security measures have been taken by the law enforcement agencies to ensure law and order across the country, including the capital Dhaka marking the holy Eid-ul-Azha. Law enforces 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 would broadcast special programmes on the occasion of the Eid-ul-Azha.
On Eid day, improved diets will be served to inmates of government hospitals, prisons, orphanages, safe homes and shelter centres.
Meanwhile, Dhaka south and north city corporations have taken preparations to remove garbage of sacrificial animals within the 24-hour period from the city. The corporation authorities have requested the city dwellers to extend cooperation to their officials-employees to clean the city properly.