Bangladeshi Muslims celebrate Eid-ul-Azha

Eid-ul-Azha, the Festival of Sacrifice, is being observed on Friday in Bangladesh.
However, residents of more than 100 villages celebrated the festival on Thursday in keeping with Saudi Arabia.
One of two feast festivals celebrated by Muslims, Eid-ul-Azha falls on the 10th day of the Islamic calendar’s last month, Dhu al-Hijjah.
Eid-ul-Azha falls within the annual pilgrimage to Mecca known as the hajj. Determining the exact date of Eid al-Adha is a point of contention and some wait for an official announcement from the authorities in Mecca.
Muslims celebrate the holiday to commemorate their belief in Abraham’s willingness to follow God’s command to sacrifice his son Ishmael, and Ishmael’s consent to being sacrificed. Today, it is is marked by slaughtering animals to feed the poor. Coming at the end of the hajj, a journey of dedication and purification, Eid al-Adha is understood as an opportunity for second chances.
According to the Quran, when Ishmael (known as Isma’el in Arabic) was 13, his father, Abraham (Ibrahim), began having inconceivable dreams in which God instructed him to sacrifice Ishmael (Quran Surah 37). Unbelievable as the dreams were, Abraham decided to follow Allah’s instructions — but not before asking Ishmael if he would agree to this. The son did not hesitate, showing ultimate submission to God’s will by telling his father to go through with the sacrifice. But at the very moment that Abraham raised the knife, Allah told him to stop — they had passed the test — and to replace Ishmael with a sacrificial ram. In the Quran, Abraham is rewarded for his faith with a second son, Isaac.
Muslims observe and prepare for Eid-ul-Azha in a number of ways. Before the festival, the faithful acquire new clothing and visit with family and friends. At dawn on the day of Eid, Muslims recite the traditional declaration of faith, the Takbir, followed by the pre-sunrise communal prayer, Salat al-Eid, which is also said on Eid al-Fitr. Worshipers then greet friends with the traditional Arabic salutation of Eid Mubarak (“Have a blessed Eid”) and exchange gifts.
In a symbolic act, Muslims who can afford it slaughter a cow, goat, sheep or camel, keeping a portion to feed themselves and distributing the rest to friends, family and the needy. Those who can’t afford it buy meat from a Halal butcher to distribute. Giving out this meat, in addition to the morning prayers, is considered an essential component of Eid-ul-Azha.
The three-day Eid holiday began on Thursday.
Like previous years, the biggest Eid congregation was held at Kishoreganj’s Sholakia at 9 am.
In Dhaka, the National Eidgah will host the main congregation at 8am, which will bring together people from all walks of life.
President Abdul Hamid and other dignitaries and hundreds of people will be attending the capital’s main Eid congregation to be held at the National Eidgah at 8.00 am.
Baitul Mukarram National Mosque’s senior Imam Maulana Muhammad Mizanur Rahman conducted the main Eid congregation.
Special arrangements have been made for women to say Eid prayers at the National Eidgah.
A total of five congregations will be held at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque at 7 am, 8 am, 9 am, 10 am and at 10.45 am.
Dhaka South and Dhaka North city corporations have arranged 362 Eid congregations in the capital. Of them, Dhaka South will hold 228 congregations.
The government has already designated 493 spots in the capital Dhaka for animal slaughtering and requested the citizens to use those.
Dhaka South City Corporation Mayor Sayeed Khokon has promised to clean up animal wastes by evening.
President Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Opposition Leader Raushon Ershad, and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia have greeted the people with separate messages on the occasion of Eid.
The president will begin exchanging Eid greetings with people from all echelons of society at the Bangabhaban from 10am.
The prime minister is currently in New York to attend the UN General Assembly. She will exchange Eid greetings with Bangladeshi expatriates there.
BNP chief Khaleda is in the UK for a health check-up. She exchanged Eid greetings in London with expatriate leaders and workers on Thursday.
The government has already designated 493 spots in the capital Dhaka for animal slaughtering and requested the citizens to use those.
Dhaka South City Corporation Mayor Sayeed Khokon has promised to clean up animal wastes by evening.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Md Asaduzzaman Mia said they will deploy 12,000 personnel to ensure the capital’s security during the Eid holidays.
The national flag will be hoisted at important public and private buildings. Roads and important establishments have already been decorated ahead of the festival.
Special meals will be served at hospitals, prisons, and shelters.
Television and radio stations have been broadcasting special programs ahead of the Eid while newspapers, too, have published special editions.
President Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Opposition Leader Raushon Ershad, and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia have greeted the people with separate messages on the occasion of Eid.
The president will begin exchanging Eid greetings with people from all echelons of society at the Bangabhaban from 10am.
The prime minister is currently in New York to attend the UN General Assembly. She will exchange Eid greetings with Bangladeshi expatriates there.
BNP chief Khaleda is in the UK for a health check-up. She exchanged Eid greetings in London with expatriate leaders and workers on Thursday.