The holy Eid-ul-Azha, one of the biggest religious festivals of Muslims, was celebrated on Tuesday in the country with due religious fervour and zeal, reports BSS. The main Eid congregation was held at 8.00 am on the National Eidgah Maidan, adjacent to the High Court amid heavy shower that began in the morning of the Eid day, forcing many in the capital city and other parts of the county offer their Eid prayers inside mosques instead of open fields.
President Abdul Hamid offered Eid-ul-Azha prayers at the National Eidgah. After the prayer, he exchanged Eid greetings with devotees. Senior Pesh Imam of Baitul Mokarram National Mosque Moulana Mizanur Rahman conducted the jamaat. Hundreds of devotees including cabinet members, political leaders, Supreme Court judges, diplomats, high civil and military officials, educationists and professional leaders offered their Eid prayers at the National Eidgah.
The jamaat was arranged by Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC). Special arrangements were made for women to say Eid prayers at the National Eidgah.
Five congregations were arranged at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque. The first one was held at 7.00am followed by the second one at 8.00am, the third one at 9.00am, the 4th one at 10am and the 5th one at 10.45 am. The country’s biggest Eid congregation was held at Sholakia Eidgha Maidan in Kishoreganj at 9am, conducted by noted Islamic scholar Moulana M Farid Uddin Mashud. Unlike previous years, participation in the Sholakia congregation, however, was low this year due to inclement weather. On Eid day, two special trains carried the devotees on Bhairab-Kishoreganj and Mymensingh-Kishoreganj routes.
A three-tier security measure was taken in and around Sholakia Eidgah ground. Parliament Secretariat arranged an Eid congregation at the South Plaza of Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban at 7.00am.
Several cabinet and parliament members, officials and employees of the secretariat and locals offered prayers there. Two Eid congregations took place at Dhaka University Central Mosque at 8.00am and 9.00am while congregation was held at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) playground at 6.45 am.
Two city corporations of the capital - Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) and Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) - also arranged over 400 Eid congregations in the city. Of those, DSCC organised 228 congregations and DNCC 180. Like in the capital city, the festival was also celebrated other parts of the country with offering of Eid prayers and sacrificing cattle.
In Chittagong about 250 Eid congregations were held at mosques and open grounds, including MA Aziz Stadium and Jamiatul Falah Mosque under the auspices of Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) and Chittagong Central Eid Jamaat Committee (CCEJC).
Two large Eid congregations were held at Jamiatul Falah Mosque premises successively at 7.45 am and 8.15 am while another one was held at M.A. Aziz Stadium at 8.00 am. In Rajshahi city, main congregation of Eid-ul-Azha was held at Shahmukhdum Central Eidgah at 8 am. Muhtamim of Jameya Islamia Shahmukhdum Maulana Shahadat Ali conducted the prayers. Fazley Hossain Badsha, MP, senior divisional and district level officials and local elite offered Eid prayers there.
The second and the third largest Eid jamaats were held at City Eidgah (Tikapara) and at Shaheb Bazar Zero point respectively at the same time.
Over 150 Eid congregations were held at the traditional and makeshift venues in Rajshahi metropolis under the supervision of respective Eid jamaat committees while major Eid jamaats were held at Rajshahi University, Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology, Rajshahi Court Eidgah, Rajshahi Stadium, Shalbagan Eidgah, New Market Jame Mosque, Police Line Math, Upashahar Eidgah Maidan and Rajarhata Jame Mosque.
Rangpur City Corporation in association with the district and police administrations arranged the main Eid-ul-Azha congregations at the Central Collectorate Eidgah at 8.30 am.
Prime Minister’s Special Envoy and Jatiya Party Chairman Hussein Muhammad Ershad, State Minister for LGRD and Cooperatives Mashiur Rahman Ranga, City Mayor Sarfuddin Ahmed Jhantu, Vice-chancellor of Begum Rokeya University Professor Dr AKM Nurun Nabi and Divisional Commissioner Kazi Hassan Ahmed participated in the main congregation.
The major Eid congregations were held at Keramotia Jam-e-Mosque, Shalbon Mistripara Jam-e-Mosque, Mandalpara Baro Eidgah, Damodarpur Baro Maidan, Satmatha Jam-e-Mosque, Munshipara Eidgah, Kamal Kachhna Baro Jam-e-Mosque, Nasirabad Ekramia Jam-e-Mosque, Mulatol Alia Madrasa, Mahiganj Shahi Jam-e-Mosque and Alamnagar Aftabia Eidgah and between 8.00 am and 9.00 am in the city.
In all congregations, special prayers were offered for unity and integrity of Muslim Ummah, and peace, progress and prosperity of the nation. The prayers were followed by sacrificing of animals.
Special security measures were taken in and around the National Eidgah, the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque, Sholakia Eidgha Maidan and other major congregations in the capital as well as other major cities in the country.
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.
On the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina exchanged greetings with people from different walks of life, party leaders and workers, judges and foreign diplomats at her Ganobhaban residence.
Later talking to the press, the prime minister greeted the countrymen and all Bangladeshi people living abroad, wishing them a happy and prosperous life.
On Eid day, National flag was hoisted at different government and non-government offices and Bangladesh missions abroad on the occasion. Roads and streets of capital city and other major cities and towns were decorated with national flags and festoons inscribed with different messages on Eid-ul-Azha.
Important public and private buildings have been illuminated across the country, including in the capital. State-run Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar and other TV channels and radio stations broadcast special programmes. Newspapers published special supplements on the occasion. Improved food was served to hospitals, prisons, orphanages, safe homes and shelter centers.