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Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)– The holy Eid-ul-Azha, the second largest festival of the Muslims, is being celebrated with solemnity and religious fervour in Bangladesh on Monday.
The festival began in the morning with offering of Eid prayers by tens of millions of Muslims at mosques and Eidgahs throughout the country.
After the prayers, a special munajat was offered seeking divine blessings for peace, progress and prosperity of the country and welfare of the Muslim Ummah. The prayers were followed by sacrificing of animals in the name of Allah.
The Eid-ul-Azha is celebrated on the 10th of Zilhajj month of the Hizri calendar as Hazrat Ibrahim (AS), on this day, some 4,500 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 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).
President M Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Begum Rawshan Ershad gave separate messages, greeting the Muslims in Bangladesh and all over the world on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha.
The main Eid congregation was held at the National Eidgah in the capital Dhaka at 8:00am. Pesh Imam of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque Mufti Maulana Mizanur Rahman conducted the main Eid congregation.
President M Abdul Hamid offered his Eid-ul-Azha prayers along with hundreds of people from all walks of life at the National Eidgah.
A total of 582 Eid congregations were held in the capital under two city corporations – Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) and Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) – marking the holy Eid-ul-Azha this morning.
Of those, 312 congregations (jamaats) were held under the DSCC and the rest 270 under the DNCC.
A total of five Eid congregations were held at the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque. The first one was held at 7:00am, second at 8:00am, third at 9:00 am, fourth at 10:00 am and the last one at 10.45am.
Law enforcement agencies, including Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and police, have taken tight security measures.
Meanwhile, one of the biggest Eid congregations of the country was held at Sholakhia Eidgah in Kishoreganj. Town’s Markaj Mosque Imam Maulana Hafizur Rahman Khan conducted the Eid Jamaat there at 8:30 am.
On the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha also called the “Festival of the Sacrifice”, the Muslims sacrifice animals in the name of Almighty Allah after saying Eid prayers.
In commemoration of this intervention, an animal is sacrificed and divided into three parts. One share is given to the poor and needy, another is kept for home, and the third is given to relatives.
On the other hand, millions of people left the capital and other major cities to celebrate Eid with their near and dear ones in the countryside.
State-run Bangladesh Television (BTV) and Bangladesh Betar and other TV channels and radio stations are broadcasting special programmes highlighting the significance of the Eid-ul-Azha.
Important public and private buildings are illuminated in the capital and other cities.
National flag and banner with the inscription of words ‘Eid Mubarak’ were hoisted at public and private buildings and different important points in the capital and other cities across the country.
On the day, improved diets will be served to inmates of government hospitals, prisons, orphanages, safe homes and shelter centers.
The government earlier declared three-day public holiday on the occasion.
BBN/SSR/AD