Eid-ul-Azha, one of the biggest religious festivals of Muslims, was celebrated across Bangladesh on Saturday with due solemnity and religious fervour.
Eid-ul-Azha is celebrated on the 10th day of Zilhajj, the final month of the Hijri calendar, commemorating the event that took place around 4,500 years ago when Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) offered to sacrifice his beloved son Hazrat Ismail (AS), who willingly submitted to his father's will in devotion to 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, Muslims across the globe offer prayers in congregations and sacrifice animals in the name of Almighty Allah.
Marking the festival, the Muslims of the country on Saturday offered Eid prayers at Eidgahs, mosques and residences across the country and later offered munajat, seeking divine blessings for peace, progress and prosperity of the country as well as the welfare of the Muslim Ummah.
After offering prayers, devotees sacrificed cattle on the first day of Eid according to their ability in the hope of attaining infinite grace from Almighty Allah. Some devotees will also slaughter cattle tomorrow, the second day of the Eid.
The main congregation of Eid-ul-Azha was held at the Jatiya Eidgah on the High Court premises at 7:30am.
Chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus,聽 Chief Justice, judges of the Supreme Court and High Court divisions, members of the Council of Advisers, leaders of various political parties, senior government officials and diplomats of various Muslim countries stationed in Dhaka, along with thousands of Muslim devotees, offered prayers there.
The chief adviser greeted the people of Bangladesh, the Muslims of the country and all over the world on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha.
Considering the recent rise in Covid-19 infections, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Friday urged everyone to wear masks in crowded areas, while advising the elderly and those who are ill to avoid such places.
Like every year, five Eid Jamaats were held at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque. The first Jamaat took place at 7:00am, followed by the others at 8:00am, 9:00am, 10:00am and 10:45am respectively, said an Islamic Foundation release.
On Dhaka University campus, two Eid Jamaats were held at the university鈥檚 central mosque, Masjidul Jamiya.
Dhaka South and North City Corporations began their activities to remove waste of sacrificial animals this afternoon.
The corporation authorities requested the city dwellers to extend cooperation to their officials and employees to clean the city properly.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police have taken security measures to ensure smooth Eid congregations in the city.
DMP commissioner Sheikh Md Sajjad Ali said that they increased intelligence surveillance and the number of check posts to ensure security during the Eid congregations in the Dhaka Metropolitan area.
The country's largest Eid congregation was held at 8:30am at Dinajpur Gor-e-Shahid Eidgah in Dinajpur.
Another large Eid gathering in the country, the congregation at Sholakia Eidgah in Kishoreganj was held at 9:00am.
The main Eid congregation in Chattogram took place at the Jamiatul Falah National Mosque at 7:30am. In Rajshahi, the main congregation was held at 7:30am at the Hazrat Shah Makhdum (R) Central Eidgah ground.
In Khulna, the main congregation was held at the Circuit House ground at 7:30am. In Barishal, the main congregation was held at Hemayet Uddin Central Eidgah ground on Band Road at the same time.
In Sylhet, the main Eid congregation was held at Shahi Eidgah ground at 8:00am. In Rangpur, the central congregation was held at the Collectorate Eidgah ground at 8:00am. In Mymensingh, the main Eid congregation was held at Anjuman Eidgah ground at 7:30am.
State-run Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar as well as private TV channels and radio stations have been broadcasting special programmes on the occasion and it will continue for several days.
Six new Bangladeshi films released at cinemas on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha.
Although newspaper offices are witnessing a five-day holiday for Eid-ul-Azha, they are providing news updates online during the holidays.
