Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN) – Holy Eid-ul-Azha, the second largest religious festival of the Muslims, will be celebrated in Bangladesh on Wednesday with due solemnity and religious fervour.
On the occasion, Muslims across the country will offer prayers in congregations and sacrifice animals in the name of Almighty Allah.
They will offer munajats seeking divine blessings for peace, progress and prosperity of the country as well as welfare of the Muslim Ummah.
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 Almighty Allah in His benign mercy spared Hazrat Ismail (AS) and instead sent a ram to be sacrificed.
To commemorate this historic event, Muslims all over the world slaughter sacrificial animals and draw inspiration from the unique example of sacrifice shown by two great prophets – Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) and Hazrat Ismail (AS).
All the necessary preparations for holding Eid congregations and celebrations have been completed across the country, including capital Dhaka and Sholakia in Kishoreganj with due solemnity and religious fervour.
Hundreds of thousands of Muslims will offer prayers there seeking divine blessings, peace and progress for the country.
A total of 409 Eid congregations will be held in the capital Dhaka under two city corporations.
Of those, 230 Eid congregations will be held under the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) and the rest 179 under the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC).
The main Eid congregation will be held at the Jatiya Eidgah Maidan at 8:00 am (local time).
Besides, a total of five Eid congregations will be held at the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque.
The first jamaat will be held at 7:00am, the second one at 8:00am, the third one at 9:00am, the fourth one at 10:00am and the last jamaat will be held at 10.45am.
Adequate water supply and security arrangements have been made at the Baitul Mukaram National Mosque to facilitate the Eid-ul-Azha prayers, according to the organizers.
Meanwhile, law enforcement agencies have taken adequate security measures for peaceful and smooth celebration of the holy Eid-ul-Azha across the country.
The law enforcement agencies were also asked to ensure smooth movement of vehicles on highways, waterways and train routes.
The main city streets and road islands have been decorated with the national flags and banners inscribed with 'Eid Mubarak' in Bangla and Arabic.
Special diet will be served in hospitals, jails, government orphanages, centres for persons with disabilities, shelter homes and vagrant and destitute welfare centres.
State-run Bangladesh Television, Bangladesh Betar and private TV channels are airing special programmes on the occasion.
On the auspicious occasion of Eid-ul-Azha, President Md Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina greeted the Muslim Ummah, including country's people, in their separate messages.
In his message, the President said, "The exemplary love and sacrifice of Prophet Hazrat Ismail (As) for Allah should be reflected on our personal and social life, and this is how peace and amity can be established."
Terming Bangladesh as an example of communal harmony, Abdul Hamid urged everyone to stay alert so that no one can create chaos through misinterpretation of religion.
In her message, the Prime Minister said every year Muslims establish the message of sympathy and equality by distributing meat of sacrificed animals among the poor and relatives.
"Eid teaches us about peace, sympathy, sacrifice and friendship," she said urging the people of the country to create a peaceful Bangladesh through participating in public welfare activities.
Meanwhile, thousands of people are leaving the capital and other major cities to celebrate Eid with their near and dear ones in the countryside.
Like bus and launch terminals railway stations were seen overcrowded as holidaymakers heading for their destinations. Makeshift cattle markets in the city and elsewhere have been witnessing a rush of buyers for sacrificial animals.
BBN/SSR/AD