The Muslims are celebrating Eid-ul-Azha, the second biggest religious festival of Islam, across Bangladesh on Wednesday (Aus 22) with due solemnity and religious fervour.
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 across the country have been offering prayers in congregations and sacrifice animals in the name of almighty Allah seeking divine blessings for peace, progress and prosperity of the country as well as welfare of the Muslim Ummah.
President Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and leader of the opposition in parliament Begum Rawshan Ershad issued separate messages, greeting the Muslims in Bangladesh and all over the world on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha.
President Hamid is set exchange Eid greetings with the cross sections of people, including eminent citizens and diplomats at his official Bangabhaban residence on the Eid day at 10:30am, BSS qouated Bangabhaban sources.
Prime minister Sheikh Hasina is also scheduled to exchange greetings with the cross sections of people, including party leaders and workers, judges and foreign diplomats, at her official Ganabhaban residence day from 10:00am to 11:00am.
The premier will exchange Eid greetings with judges, the cabinet secretary, the chiefs of the three services, foreign diplomats, senior secretaries, secretaries and other civil and military officials from 11:00am at the same venue.
The main Eid congregation was set to hold at the National Eidgah near the High Court Bhaban here at 8:00am.
The Eid congregations were scheduled to be held at 409 spots in the capital – 230 Eid Jamats, including the main Eid congregation, under the Dhaka South City Corporation and 179 other congregations under Dhaka North City Corporation.
A total of five Eid congregations were set to hold at the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque, the first jamat at 7:00am, second at 8:00am, third at 9:00am, fourth at 10:00am and the last one at 10:45am respectively.
Besides, like the previous years, the largest Eid congregation was held on Sholakia field in Kishoreganj at 7:30am.
Police have beefed up security measures for peaceful and smooth celebration of the Eid-ul-Azha.
The law enforcement agencies were also asked to ensure smooth movement of vehicles on highways, waterways and train routes, he added.
Railway stations, bus and launch terminals were seen overcrowded for the last few days as home-goers are heading for their desired destinations.
Makeshift cattle markets in the city as elsewhere have witnessed a rush of buyers for sacrificial animals.
Special arrangement were made by the public private transport companies including Bangladesh Railway, BRTC, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority for smooth travelling of huge number of homebound people.
State-run Bangladesh Television, BTV and Bangladesh Betar and other TV channels and radio stations would broadcast special programmes on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha.
On the day, improved diets will be served to inmates of government hospitals, prisons, orphanages, safe homes and shelter centres.
The government earlier declared three-day public holiday on the occasion.