Bangladesh to celebrate Eid-ul-Azha on Wednesday with spirit of sacrifice

Muslims in Bangladesh will celebrate the Eid-ul-Azha on Wednesday through prayers and ritual sacrifice of animals with the teaching of sacrificing all the evil within.

Staff Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 21 August 2018, 07:05 PM
Updated : 21 August 2018, 08:29 PM

During the second most important festival in the Islamic calendar, they will offer the prayers at congregations in the morning before slaughtering cattle to commemorate Prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son at Allah's command.

Much of the meat will be given away to others.

Slaughtered animal is cut into three pieces, with one portion eaten in a celebratory dinner by family, another portion offered to friends, and the remaining portion donated to those less fortunate and unable to afford a cattle.

President Md Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have urged all to use the essence of sacrifice on the occasion for the country’s peace and prosperity.

Hundreds of thousands of people are celebrating the Eid with their families and relatives at their ancestral homes, leaving Dhaka almost deserted.

The bus journeys have been without much hassle this year compared with the previous years, but train passengers have suffered due to delays and lack of coaches.

Amidst the rush of Eid holidaymakers and trucks carrying cattle, 23 people died in road crashes on the highways on Monday. The death toll in road accidents on Tuesday was nine.

Like previous years, the main congregation will be held at the National Eidgah Ground in Dhaka.

President Hamid, cabinet ministers, MPs, politicians and people from all walks of life will join the congregation at 8am.

The main Eid prayers will be held at the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque instead at 8:30am in case of bad weather.

A total of five Eid congregations will be held at the mosque – at 7am, 8am, 9am, 10am and 10:45am.

The two city corporations are organising 409 congregations. Sholakia in Kishoreganj is also ready to host the largest congregation of the country.

The National Eidgah in Dhaka ready on Tuesday for the main Eid-ul-Azha congregation, which will be held at the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque instead in case of rain. Photo: Mahmud Zaman Ovi

Dhaka South Mayor Md Sayeed Khokon has promised to free the city from cattle waste within 24 hours.

The authorities have designated 2,954 places for cattle slaughtering at 11 city corporations to avoid environmental pollution from cattle waste.

The Met Office has forecast light to moderate rainfall in Khulna, Barishal, Sylhet and Chattogram.

It is likely to rain at some point during Eid day in Rajshahi, Rangpur, Mymensingh and Dhaka. The capital may only experience light rain in the morning of the Eid day, which is not expected to cause much trouble.

Customers have alleged exorbitant prices at the cattle markets in the capital while the traders expressed frustration over a drop in prices on the eve of Eid.

“Azha means Qurbani (sacrifice) or to dedicate something. Realising the essence of sacrifice, we have to pave the way for establishing peace and welfare in society,” the president said in a greetings message.

“The main message of all religions is welfare of the people,” he added.

Hasina in her message said, “Eid teaches us about peace, sympathy, sacrifice and brotherhood. So, let’s establish a happy, prosperous and peaceful Bangladesh, free from discrimination, by participating in the welfare-oriented activities and realising the essence of Eid-ul-Azha,”

In another message, Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Raushon Ershad hoped the Muslims would shun jealousy and greed for a better life for all.

The president will exchange Eid greetings with the people at the Bangabhaban after the congregation.

Hasina will also exchange greetings with the Awami League leaders and activists, judges, foreign diplomats and others at the Ganabhaban from 10am to 11am.

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, who exchanged greetings with the people during Eid in the past, is spending the Eid in jail this year after her conviction in a corruption case.

The party has not kept any programme other than offering prayers at founder Ziaur Rahman’s grave in Dhaka in the morning. BNP leaders have written to the jail authorities for permission to meet Khaleda.

The national flag will be hoisted at important public and private buildings. Roads and important establishments have been bedecked ahead of the festival.

Special meals are expected to be served at hospitals, prisons, and shelters for Eid.

Private television channels are airing special programmes while newspapers, too, will publish special editions.