Shawdesh Desk:

The holy Eid-ul-Azha is being celebrated in all parts of the country with due solemnity and sense of sacrifice today.

Devotees irrespective of ages offer prayers at Eidgahs followed by slaughtering of sacrificial animals as a token of sacrifice to satisfy Almighty Allah.

Eid-ul-Azha, the second biggest religious festival of the Muslims, falls on the 10th of Zilhajj month of the Hizri calendar as Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) on this day of some 4,500 years ago offered to sacrifice his son Hazrat Ismail (AS).  Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) received the directive of Allah through a dream in sleep and attempted to execute it. On the other hand, Hazrat Ismail (AS) willingly agreed to be slaughtered to please Allah.

In His benign mercy, Almighty Allah spared Hazrat Ismail (AS) and got a ram to be sacrificed instead of him.

To commemorate the historic event, the Muslims across the country offer prayers in congregations and sacrifice animals.

President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued messages, wishing the Muslims in Bangladesh and other parts of the world on this occasion.

The main Eid congregation was held at the National Eidgah adjacent to the High Court premises at 8am.

Biggest Eid congregation was held at the historic Sholakia ground in Kishoreganj after a hiatus of 2 years owning to Covid-19 pandemic.

Five congregations are held at the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque in phases from 7 am to 10:45am.

Besides, Eid Jamaat was held at the South Plaza of the National Parliament at 8am attended by ministers, lawmakers and Jatiya Sangsad Secretariat officials.

In the Dhaka University, two Eid Jamaats were held at university’s Masjidul Jamiya central mosque at 8am and 9am.

Heavy contingents of law enforcers are deployed in the main congregation places and strategic points of the city.

State-run Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar are airing special programmes on this occasion. Newspapers have published special supplements while private radios and televisions are broadcasting special programmes in observance of the day.

Improved diets are distributed among prisoners in jails and patients in hospitals in this regard.