Eid-ul-Azha celebrated amid festivity
INDEPENDENT DESK
The holy Eid-ul-Azha, the second largest religious festival for the Muslims, was celebrated in Rajshahi, Khulna, Barisal and Chittagong with due fervor, joy, enthusiasm, gaiety and solemnity as elsewhere in the district on Friday.
In Chittagong, the festival began in the morning with offering of Eid prayers by thousands of Muslims at mosques and prayer grounds in the city. The Muslims prayed for divine blessings for peace, progress and prosperity of the country and welfare of the Muslim community. The prayers were followed by sacrificing of animals in the name of Allah. The main Eid jamaat (congregation) was held at Jamiatul Falah Masjid at 8am in the city. Hundreds of Muslims from all walks of life, including political leaders, businessmen, and civil officials, offered their prayers on Jamiatul Falah Masjid Maidan. The prayer arranged under the auspices of Chittagong City Corporation was led by Jalal Uddin Al Kaderi, Khatib of Jamiatul Falah Masjid.
Chittagong City Corporation Mayor AJM Nasir Uudin, Mainuddin Khan Badal MP, city BNP vice-president Abu Sufian and Secretary Dr Shahadat Hossain, Jatiya Party Presidium Member Solaiman alam Seth offered prayers at Jamiatul Falah Masjid Maidan. After offering prayer, the leaders of the AL and BNP embraced each other and exchanged Eid greetings. This time Chittagong City Corporation has arranged Eid prayers in 155 places while Chittagong District Administration arranged in 92 places. The first Eid jamaat in the city was held at 7:30am at Anderkillah Shahi Jame Masjid.
In Rajshahi, hundreds of devotees offered their prayers in various Eidgahs of the city. Special prayers were also offered at the end of the prayers. The devotes also offered Feteha and prayers at the Hatemkhan grave yard, Upasahar grave yard, Tikapara grave yard and Sultanabad grave yard of the city. The largest congregation of Eid-ul-Azha was held at Hazrat Shah Makhdum Eidgah in Rajshahi.
Principal of Jamia Islamia Shah Makhdum (R) Madrasa Alhaj Hazrat Mufti Maulana Shahadat Ali conducted the Eid Prayer as the Imam.
Member of Parliament Fazle Hossain Badsha (Rajshahi Sadar), Mayor of Rajshahi City Corporation Nizam Uddin, Former Mayor of RCC Mizanur Rahman Minu, Divisional Commissioner Helaluddin Ahmed, Deputy Commissioner Mejba Uddin Chowdhury along with top government and non government officials, bankers offered their prayer here.
Our Khulna Correspondent adds: Affluent Muslims celebrated the day by sacrificing animals in remembrance of the sacrifice of Hazrat Ibrahim (AS), who was instructed by almighty Allah to give up his dearest son Hazrat Ismail (AS) in a test of faith. Most families of Khulna city and district sacrificed goats, bulls, buffaloes and sheep in the name of Allah. The sacrificial meat was shared with relatives and the poor.
In the city, the main Eid Jamaat was held at Town-Jame-Mosque at around 8 am. People along with their children, wearing traditional dresses like Pajama and Punjabi, were seen flocking to different Eidgahs and respective mosques since the morning to join the Jamaats.
Lawmaker of Khulna sadar constituency Mizanur Rahman Mizan, Mayor of Khulna City Corporation (KCC) Moniruzzaman Moni, Administrator of Khulna Zila Parishad Sheikh Harunur Rashid along with other local political leaders, distinguished personalities and high-ranking government officials as well as people in general offered their Eid prayers at main Eid Congregation.
After the prayers, thousands of devotee offered special munajats seeking divine blessings for peace, progress and prosperity of the nation as well as greater welfare of the Muslim Ummah.
Tight security measures comprising of intelligence agencies, police and plain clothes personnel were taken around the Eidgah where government leaders and other important personalities also joined in the congregation. After the prayers, following the Muslims tradition, they embraced and also greeted each other, saying Eid Mubarak. They also visited the houses of relatives, friends and neighbours in a festive mood to greet them. From the very onset of the Eid vacation, Khulna city looked deserted. Thousands of people had left the city to rejoice with their near and dear ones. On the Eid day and the day after, parts of Khulna city wore a festive look.
Khulna City Corporation (KCC) decorated the important city corners and road islands with miniature national flags and also other flags inscribed with Eid Mubarak both in Bangla and Arabic. National flag were hoisted atop all government and private buildings and mosques, streets, roadsides and other major buildings illuminated at night.
Special food was served at local hospitals, jails, government-run children and shelter homes, homes for the society handicapped and vagrant welfare centres on the occasion, the officials in the concerned administration said.
In Barisal, the main Eid Jamaat in the city was held at Hemayet Uddin Eidgah Maidan at 8:30 am. BCC Mayor, lawmaker, judges, socio - political-cultural personalities, high-ranking government officials participated in prayer here led by Hafez Mawlana Shihabuddin.
Besides more than forty-five thousand people of twelve thousand families observed Eid ul Azha on Thursday in accordance with Saudi Arabia in 80 places of 10 upazilas under Barisal, Patuakhali, Bhola, Jhalakati and Barguna districts. They are the followers of Kaderia, Jahangiria and Chistia Tarika and Pir of Elahabad Sufia Darbarsharif at Kanchan Nagor and Pir Shaheb of Mariachi Darbar Sharif of Satkania under Chittagong district.
