The holy Eid-ul-Azha, the second biggest religious festival of the Muslims, is being celebrated across the country today (Monday) with due solemnity and religious fervour. On the occasion, the Muslims across the country will offer prayers in congregations and sacrifice animals in the name of Almighty Allah. They will offer munajat seeking divine blessings for peace, progress and prosperity of the country as well as welfare of the Muslim Ummah. The Eid-ul-Azha is celebrated on the 10th of Zilhajj month of the Hizri calendar as Hazrat Ibrahim (AS), on this day some 4,000 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 all over the world slaughter sacrificial animals and draw inspiration from the unique example of sacrifice to please Allah as shown by two great prophets — Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) and Hazrat Ismail (AS). The government has taken elaborate programmes to celebrate Eid-ul-Azha across the country with due solemnity and religious fervour. The celebration will begin with Eid congregations across the country followed by sacrifice of cattle in the name of Allah. A three-day Eid holiday began yesterday. Newspaper offices would also remain closed for three days until October 7. State-run Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar and other TV channels and radio stations would broadcast special programmes on Eid. Newspapers have published special supplements on the occasion. The national flag is being flown atop government and non-government buildings and roadside poles to mark the festival. Important public and private buildings have been illuminated in the capital and other cities. President Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Begum Raushan Ershad issued separate messages, greeting the Muslims in Bangladesh and all over the world on the occasion of Eid-ul Azha. The Prime Minister would exchange Eid greetings with the people of all walks of life including judges and foreign diplomats at her official Ganobhaban residence in the morning. Opposition Leader Begum Raushan Ershad will exchange greetings with the people of her election constituency in Mymensingh. The capital`s main Eid congregation would be held at the National Eidgah at 8.30 am. Special arrangements have been made for women to say Eid prayers at the National Eidgah. Five congregations would be held at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque at 7 am, 8 am, 9 am, 10 am and at 11 am. Bangladesh`s biggest congregation would be held as usual at Sholakia Eidgah in Kishoreganj at 10 am. Outlying city corporations and district and upazila administrations have drawn up similar programmes to celebrate Eid. On the day, improved diets will be served at government hospitals, prisons, orphanages, safe homes and shelter centers. BSS
