Bangladesh News

Holy Eid-ul-Azha, the second largest religious festival of the Muslims, will be celebrated across the country tomorrow amidst due religious fervour and spirit of sacrifice.

However, the usual enthusiasm for the festival will be missing among the Sidr-hit people of southern districts this year, many of whom had lost everything in the devastating cyclone last month.

To commemorate Hazrat Ibrahim’s devotion to almighty Allah proven by his readiness to give up his dearest son Hazrat Ismail, well-to-do Muslims will sacrifice animals and share the sacrificial meat with their relatives, neighbours and poor people.

Hazrat Ibrahim, who had been asked by Almighty Allah to sacrifice his dearest son, arranged everything to implement Allah’s order at Mina near Makkah. Satisfied by his sincere intent, Allah ordered Ibrahim to sacrifice an animal in place of his son.

Marking the event, which symbolises highest loyalty and submission to the Almighty, Muslims at Mina and around the world sacrifice animals on the 10th day of the month of Zilhajj.

On the occasion, main streets and road islands will be decorated with miniature national flags and banners inscribed with ‘Eid Mubarak.’

However, the government offices will not be illuminated this year due to Cyclone Sidr tragedy.

Thousands of people have already left Dhaka for their village homes to celebrate the festival with their near and dear ones after going through the hurdles of managing tickets for buses, trains and launches.

The rush for home will end today, though many fear they cannot make it on time due to unavailability of tickets.

A three-day government holiday for Eid-ul-Azha begins tomorrow. Newspaper offices will also remain closed on these days.

In separate messages, President Iajuddin Ahmed and Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed greeted the people of the country on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha. The chief adviser is in Mecca at present performing the Holy Hajj.

The main Eid congregation will be held at the National Eidgah at 8:00am, attended by President Iajuddin Ahmed among others.

Separate arrangements have been made at the Eidgah for women, diplomats and their wives.

Besides, five Eid congregations will be held at the Baitul Mokarram National Mosque at 7:00am, 8:00am, 9:00am, 10:00am and 10:45am.

In case of inclement weather, the 8:00am congregation at the Baitul Mokarram will be considered as the main congregation, says a handout of Islamic Foundation Bangladesh.

Eid congregations will also be held at different mosques and eidgahs in Dhaka and elsewhere in the country, with the biggest congregation at Sholakia Maidan in Kishoreganj.

Like the previous years, the DCC will organise a total of 361 Eid congregations with four in each of the 90 DCC wards in the city and one at Dhaka University playground.

The president will host a reception at Bangabhaban on the Eid day at 10:00am to exchange greetings with dignitaries and foreign diplomats.

The state-run Bangladesh Betar and Bangladesh Television (BTV) and private TV channels will air special programmes on the occasion. The national dailies have brought out special supplements today highlighting the significance of the Eid-ul-Azha.

Special meals will be served at jails, orphanages, vagrant centres and dormitories on the day.

To celebrate Eid, Shilpakala Academy has organised a cultural function at National Music and Dance Centre at 4:00pm on the Eid day.

Dhaka City Mayor Sadek Hossain Khoka, acting BNP Chairperson M Saifur Rahman, Bangladesh Hindu-Buddhist-Christian Oikya Parishad greeted the people of the country on the occasion.