M M Jasim :The holy Eid-ul-Azha, the second biggest religious festival of the Muslims, will be celebrated across the country on Friday with due solemnity and religious fervour.Special prayers will be offered in mosques and Eidgahs for the solidarity, prosperity and integrity of Bangladesh. Islami scholars from different schools of thought will deliver special sermons to highlight the significance of the day and the purpose of the sacrifice rendered by Prophet Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) centuries ago.To celebrate the Eid-ul-Azha, Muslims slaughter cattle, including cow, goat, sheep and camel, according to their purchasing power. The Eid-ul-Azha is celebrated on the 10th of Zilhajj month of the Hizri calendar every year. The Muslims draw inspiration from the unique example of sacrifice to please Allah as shown by Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) and Hazrat Ismail (AS).The administration in all cities has beefed up the security for Eid. A contingency plan has been issued to ensure and maintain law and order, safety and security of the members of the public. Police personnel would perform their duties outside the mosques and public places.On Thursday, braving all sort of odds thousands of people left Dhaka for their respective villages to celebrate Eid-ul-Azha with their kindred. President Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the leader of the opposition in Parliament Raushan Ershad, and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson Khaleda Zia in seperate messages greeted the Muslims in Bangladesh and rest of the world on the occasion of the Eid-ul-Azha. The national flag will be hoisted atop government and non-government office buildings on the day.The largest Eid congregation will be held at Sholakia Eidgah in Kishoreganj district. Lakhs of devotees will offer prayers there seeking Divine blessings, peace and progress of the country. The capital’s main Eid congregation would be held at the National Eidgah at 8.00 am to be attended by President Abdul Hamid and other dignitaries along with hundreds of people. Special arrangements have been made for women to say Eid prayer at the National Eidgah. More than one lakh people including 5000 women will be able to offer Eid prayer there. Eid congregations would be held at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque at 7 am, 8 am, 9 am, 10 am and at 10.45 am. Dhaka South City Corporation, Dhaka North City Corporation, Dhaka Metropolitan Police, Dhaka divisional commissioner’s office, Islamic Foundation, Mass Communications Department and Public Works Department said that they had completed all preparations for holding the main Eid congregation at the National Eidgah.The authorities have made special arrangements for women and foreign dignitaries and spouses at the National Eidgah.Similarly, preparations have also been made for holding congregations elsewhere across the country.The Dhaka City Corporations will hold about 330 Eid congregations in the capital.Bangladesh Betar, Bangladesh Television and private television channels will air special programmes and newspapers will carry special supplements to mark the occasion.Meanwhile, to keep the city clean and speed up the management of waste, blood and leftovers disposal after slaughters of sacrificial cattle on the Eid, both the Dhaka North and Dhaka South City Corporations, have taken several measures. Special instructions have been given to the staff of Solid Waste Management to continue patrolling roads and streets to lift the waste and keep the atmosphere clean.To stop unplanned slaughtering, 595 places have been designated in the city for the first time to sacrifice animals.The two city corporations will also distribute around 3.8 lakh biodegradable sacks for free among city dwellers ahead of the Eid to bring discipline and quicken disposal of leftovers of slaughtered cattle. The corporations target to remove waste from the capital within 48 hours from Eid day noon.
