Eid-ul-Azha celebrated

Holy Eid-ul-Azha, the second largest religious festival of the Muslims, was celebrated across the country on Wednesday with due religious fervour, solemnity and spirit of sacrifice.

To commemorate Hazrat Ibrahim's (AS) devotion to almighty Allah as illustrated by his readiness to give up his dearest son Hazrat Ismail (AS), well-off Muslims are sacrificing animals and sharing the sacrificial meat with their relatives, neighbours and poor people.

Braving many odds, including struggle for tickets and sufferings caused by Sunday's hartal, hundreds of thousands of people left the capital for their village homes to celebrate the festival with their near and dear ones.

Important public buildings, thoroughfares and road islands of the capital have been decorated with national flags and banners inscribed with 'Eid Mubarak.' Major government buildings have also been illuminated.

The main Eid jamaat (congregation) was held at National Eidgah on the High Court premises at 8:00am.

President Zillur Rahman offered his Eid-ul-Azha prayers at the main Eid jamaat (congregation) on National Eidgah Maidan in the city at 8:00 in the morning.

Chief Justice ABM Khairul Haque, members of the cabinet, advisers to the prime minister including HT Imam, state ministers, Dhaka City Corporation mayor, members of the parliament, judges of the Supreme Court, election commissioners, attorney general, senior political leaders and diplomats of different Muslim countries also offered the prayers at the congregation.

Khatib of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque Prof Moulana Muhammad Salahuddin conducted the Eid prayers, attended by hundreds of people of all walks of life in a festive mood.

A special munajat seeking divine blessings for peace, development and welfare of the country and its people and greater unity of the Muslim Ummah was also held.

The president exchanged Eid pleasantries with the devotees after the prayers.

The jamaat was held under the auspices of Dhaka City Corporation (DCC). Special arrangements were also made for women and foreign diplomats to offer their Eid prayers at the National Eidgah.

The DCC arranged drinking water and mobile toilets for the devotees at the venue. Different law enforcement agencies, including Dhaka Metropolitan Police and Rapid Action Battalion, maintained tight security around the Eidgah.

The public holiday for Eid-ul-Azha has begun on Tuesday. Newspaper offices will remain closed for three days from Tuesday.

The president, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia on Monday gave separate messages, greeting the countrymen on this occasion.

The state-run Bangladesh Betar and BTV and private television and radio channels are airing special programmes on the occasion. The national dailies also brought out special supplements on Tuesday highlighting the significance of the festival.

Special meals have been served at jails, orphanages, vagrant centres and dormitories on the day.

Additional contingents of law enforcers have been deployed at different strategic points to ensure safe celebration of the festival.