Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)- Eid-ul-Azha, the second largest festival of the Muslims, is being celebrated with solemnity and religious fervour in Bangladesh on Wednesday.
The major Eid congregations were held at different grounds and in open spaces in the capital Dhaka as well as other parts of the country.
The main Eid congregation of the country was held in the National Eidgah in Dhaka at 8:30am (local time) on Wednesday under tight security.
Baitul Mukarram Pesh Imam Hafez Mufti Muhibbullahil Baqui Nadvi led the prayer.
The president, Abdul Hamid, ministers, MPs, Supreme Court judges, politicians, elites, diplomats of different Muslim countries, top civil and military officials as well as common people of the city attended the congregation at the National Eidgah.
Special arrangements were also made for women to offer their Eid prayers at the National Eidgah.
A special munajat was offered seeking divine blessings for peace and progress of the country, and the welfare of its people and greater unity of the Muslim ummah.
President Abdul Hamid exchanged Eid greetings with the devotees after the prayers at the Eidgah.
Dhaka South City Corporation made all the arrangements to hold the main congregation of the country while Dhaka Metropolitan Police, President’s guard regiment and Rapid Action Battalion arranged security.
Five congregations were held at the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque every hour from 7:00am to 11:00am.
The biggest congregation in the country was held at Sholakia Eidgah in Kishoreganj district at 10:00am.
The capital is decorated with miniature replicas of the national flag and banners reading Eid Mubarak.
The streets, however, are free from the usual traffic congestion. Children in colourful attires have been roaming around the capital.
Many people, especially children, have been rushing to the parks and zoos to enjoy the day.
The capital already wore a deserted look as several million people left the city to celebrate Eid with their families in outlying areas, braving the hassles of travel.
The state-run Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar, and other private television and radio channels have been airing special programs and the newspapers published special supplement to mark one of the biggest days on Islamic calendar.
The hospitals, jails, government-owned children’s shelter homes and other welfare centres and shelter homes for the destitute are scheduled to serve special food.
Different law enforcement agencies have taken special security measures and intensified surveillance at important points to avoid any untoward incidents.
The main Eid congregation in Chittagong was held at Jamiatul Falah Mosque ground while the main Eid congregations in Khulna, Sylhet, Rajshahi, Barisal and Rangpur were held at Town Hall Mosque ground, Shahee Eidgah ground, Hazrat Shah Mokhdum (Rah) Central Mosque ground, Hemayet Uddin Eidgah ground and Collectorate Eidgah ground.
BBN/SSR/AD-16Oct13-4:56 pm (BST)