Eid-ul-Azha, the second biggest religious festival of the Muslims, is being celebrated across the country on Friday amid religious fervour and much enthusiasm.
Thousands of Muslims offered prayers seeking divine blessings in the morning.
The main Eid congregation in the capital was held at the National Eidgah at 8am.
President Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Opposition Leader in Parliament Rawshan Ershad, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, and Jatiya Party Chairman H M Ershad greeted the nation and Muslims across the world on this joyous occasion.
In separate messages, they wished peace, progress and prosperity for all.
The Eid-ul-Azha is celebrated on the 10th of Zilhajj month of the Hizri calendar as Hazrat Ibrahim (AS), on this day some 4,000 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 in His benign mercy spared Hazrat Ismail (AS) and instead sent a ram to be sacrificed.
To commemorate this historic event, the Muslims all over the world slaughter sacrificial animals and draw inspiration from the unique example of sacrifice to please Allah as shown by two great prophets -- Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) and Hazrat Ismail (AS).
Meanwhile, millions of people have left the capital and other major cities to celebrate Eid with their near and dear ones in the countryside.
A three-day Eid holiday began on Thursday. Newspaper offices would also remain closed for three days until September 26.
