Dhaka – The Muslims across Bangladesh have celebrated their second largest religious festival of Eid-al-Adha sacrificing tens of thousands of animals on Tuesday.

The festival began in the morning with offering of Eid prayers by tens of millions of Muslims at mosques and Eidgahs throughout the country.

Special prayers were offered seeking blessings for peace, progress and prosperity of the country and welfare of the Muslims across the world.

The prayers were followed by sacrificing of animals in the name of Allah.

The main Eid congregation was held the National Eidgah adjacent to the High Court in the capital city while the biggest one was at Sholakia in northern district of Kishoreganj.

President Abdul Hamid offered the prayers at the National Eidgah in the city. Political leaders, judges of the Supreme Court, diplomats, high civil and military officials and educationists offered their Eid-al-Adha prayers on the National Eidgah Maidan.

The congregation was arranged by Dhaka South City Corporation amid tight security. Special arrangements were made for women to offer the Eid prayers at the National Eidgah.

Five congregations were arranged at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque.

Hundreds of people from all walks of life participated in the prayers at the National Eidgah and the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque despite heavy rain that began in the morning.

The biggest congregation of the country was held at Sholakia Eidgha Maidan in Kishoreganj. The Eid-jamaat was conducted by noted Islamic scholar Moulana M Farid Uddin Mashud. Tens of thousands of devotee from home and abroad joined the crowd.

Special security measures were taken for the congregations keeping in the mind that the terrorist attacks at an Eid-crowd in Kishoreganj.

The Eid-ul-Azha is celebrated on the 10th of the Arabic month of Zilhajj. On this day some 4,000 years ago, prophet Ibrahim offered to sacrifice his beloved son Ismail who willingly submitted to the will of his father to please Allah.

President Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Raushan Ershad issued separate messages, greeting the Muslims in Bangladesh and all over the world on the occasion of Eid-ul Azha.

State-run Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar and other TV channels and radio stations are airing special programmes.

City streets were decorated with national flags and festoons inscribed with different messages on Eid-ul-Azha.

Important public and private buildings were illuminated in the capital and other cities. On the day, improved diets were served at hospitals, prisons, orphanages, safe homes and shelter centers.

Two city corporations – Dhaka South City Corporation and Dhaka North City Corporation – arranged over 400 Eid congregations in the capital city. Of those, DSCC organised 228 congregations and DNCC 180.

District administration, upazila administration and city corporations and councils across the country have also taken different programmes to celebrate Eid-ul-Azha in a befitting manner.

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