Staff Correspondent

Eid-ul-Azha, the second biggest religious festival of the Muslims, was celebrated across the country today with due solemnity and religious fervor.

President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages greeting the Muslims of the country and all over the world on the occasion of the holy Eid-ul-Azha.

The main congregation (jamaat) of the Eid-ul Azha was held at Jatiya Eidgah ground adjacent to the High Court under the auspices of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC).

President Mohammed Shahabuddin, Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan, DSCC Mayor Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, cabinet members, Supreme Court judges, lawmakers, senior political leaders, diplomats and high civil and military officials offered prayers at the main Eid jamaat (congregation).

Baitul Mukarram National Mosque Khatib Hafez Mufti Maulana Ruhul Amin conducted the prayers while Md Anisur Rahman performed duty as mukabbir.

After the jamaat, special prayers were offered seeking peace, progress and welfare of the people. Following the prayers, the devotees shook hands and embraced each other.

Like previous years, five congregations (jamaat) were held today at the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque in the capital.

The first Eid jamaat was held at 7 am while the next four jamaats were held at 8 am, 9 am, 10 am and 10.45am respectively.

Eid congregation was held at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad (JS) Bhaban here at 8am.

Chief Whip of the Jatiya Sangsad Noor-E-Alam Chowdhury, Science and Technology Minister Architect Yafesh Osman, Abul Hasnat Abdullah, MP, AB Tazul Islam, MP, JS Speaker's husband Sayed Ishtiaq Hossain, Senior Secretary of JS Secretariat KM Abdus Salam and others lawmakers, JS officials and employees and devotees attended the Eid Jamaat, said a press release.

In Dhaka University, Eid Jamaats were held at the university’s central mosque -Masjidul Jamiya on the campus.

Eid congregations were also held at mosques and Eidgahs across the country.

After offering prayers, devotees sacrificed cattle on the first day of Eid today according to their ability in the hope of attaining infinite grace from Almighty Allah. Some devotees will also slaughter cattle tomorrow, the second day of the Eid.

Dhaka South and North City Corporations began its activities to remove wastes of sacrificial animals within the 24-hour period from the city this afternoon.

The corporation authorities requested the city dwellers to extend cooperation to their officials-employees to clean the city properly.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today greeted all Freedom Fighters (FFs) of the country on the occasion of the holy Eid-ul-Azha.

Like other occasions, the Premier sent flowers, fruits and sweetmeats to the war-wounded freedom fighters (FFs) and members of the martyred families at Martyred and War-wounded Freedom Fighters' Rehabilitation Centre (Muktijoddha Tower-1) at Gaznavi Road in the capital's Mohammadpur area as a mark of her good wishes for them.

PM's Assistant Press Secretary A.B.M. Sarwer-e-Alom Sarker handed over the items to them, according to a press release of the press wing of the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).

The war-wounded FFs and members of the martyred families thanked and expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister for remembering them on every national day and festival like the Independence Day, the Victory Day, Eid and Pahela Baishakh.

Adequate security measures were taken by the law enforcement agencies to ensure law and order across the country, including the capital Dhaka marking the holy Eid-ul-Azha.

State-run Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar as well as other TV channels and radio stations broadcast special programmes on the occasion of the Eid-ul-Azha.

Improved diets were served to inmates of government hospitals, prisons, orphanages, safe homes and shelter centres.

Eid-ul-Azha is celebrated on the 10th of Zil Hajj month of the Hizri calendar as Hazrat Ibrahim (AS), on this day, some 4,500 years ago, offered to sacrifice his beloved son Hazrat Ismail (AS), who willingly submitted to the will of his father to please Allah.

But the Almighty Allah in His benign mercy spared Hazrat Ismail (AS) and instead sent a ram to be sacrificed.