Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)- Holy Eid-ul-Azha, the second largest religious festival of the Muslims, will be celebrated in Bangladesh on Saturday with due religious fervour.
The Muslims allover 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).
On this day, the 10th of Zilhajj some 4,000 years ago, Prophet Ibrahim (AS) 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 Ismail (AS) and instead sent a ram to be sacrificed.
The government earlier announced a three-day holiday for the officials and employees of government and non-government organizations.
Meanwhile, the city dwellers started leaving the capital for their village homes to celebrate the Eid with their near and dear ones.
Eid jamaats (congregations) will be held at different parts of the country.
In the capital Dhaka, the main congregation will be held at the National Eidgah on the High Court premises at about 8:30am. In case of inclement weather, the main congregation will be held at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque at 9:00 am.
Like previous years, the authorities made a separate arrangement for women at the National Eidgah to join the Eid congregation.
On the occasion, special diets will be served at different hospitals, jails, safe homes and destitute welfare centres. Newspapers have brought out supplements and electronic media will broadcast special programmes on Eid.
In separate messages, President Zillur Rahman, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the leader of the opposition Khaleda Zia conveyed Eid greeting to the Muslims in Bangladesh and all over the world.
BBN/SSR/AD-6:30 pm (BST)
