The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

The holy Eid-ul-Azha, the second greatest religious festival of the Muslims, was observed on Friday across the country like rest of the world with due religious fervor and solemnity.

The Muslim community celebrated the Eid-Ul-Azha commemorating the readiness of Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) to sacrifice his beloved son Hazrat Ismail (AS) to fulfill the wish of Almighty Allah. Marking the occasion, the Muslims all over the world sacrificed animals and distribute meats among the relatives and the poor.

The main Eid congregation was held at the National Eidgah Maidan on the premises of the Bangladesh Supreme Court under the auspices of Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) in the morning.

President Prof Dr Iajuddin Ahmed offered his Eid prayer at the Eidgah. Besides, five other Eid congregations were also held consecutively at the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque at 7 am, 8 am, 9 am, 10 am and 1o.45 am.

Eid jamaats were also held at 361 other venues in 90 wards of the capital and another Eid-jamaat was organized on Dhaka University playground.

Speaker Barrister Jamiruddin Sircar, Chief Justice M Ruhul Amin, advisers of the Caretaker Government, Mayor of Dhaka Sadek Hossain Khoka, Judges of the Supreme Court and people of all walks of life offered their Eid prayers at the Eidgah Maidan.

Acting Khatib of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque Mufti Moulana Nuruddin was the imam of the main Eid prayer at National Eidgah.

A special munajat was offered seeking divine blessings for peace and development of the country, welfare of the people and greater unity among the Muslim Ummah. After Eid prayers, President Prof Iajuddin exchanged Eid pleasantries with the devotees.

The government announced a three-day public holiday from yesterday (Thursday)on the occasion of holy Eid-ul-Azha festival.

National dailies published special supplements highlighting the significance of the festival while Bangladesh Television, Bangladesh Betar and private TV channels put on air various entertainment and discussion-based programmes on the occasion.

President Professor Dr Iajuddin Ahmed and his wife Professor Dr Anwara Begum today hosted a reception and exchanged Eid greetings with distinguished personalities and diplomats of different countries at Bangabhaban this morning.

Speaker Barrister Jamiruddin Sircar, Chief Justice M Ruhul Amin, Advisors of the Caretaker Government Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, M Anwarul Iqbal and Dr C S Karim, Chief of Bangladesh Navy Vice Admiral Sarwar Jahan Nizam, Chief of Bangladesh Air Force Air Marshal Shah Mohammad Ziaur Rahman and Principal Staff Officer of the Armed Forces Division Lieutenant General Masud Uddin Chowdhury joined the reception among others.

Ambassadors and High Commissioners of different countries, Judges of the Supreme Court, Secretaries, leaders of different political parties, high civil and military officials, Vice Chancellors of the Universities, editors and senior journalists and distinguished persons of different professions joined the reception.

Eid congregations were held at 361 venues in 90 wards of the capital and all mosques and eidgahs in the city.

A total of 249 Eid congregations at mosques and selected open spaces including three big ones at M A Aziz Stadium and Jamiatul Falah Mosque (two successively) were held in the port city under the auspices of Chittagong City Corporation (CCC)and Chittagong Central Eid Jamaat Committee (CCEJC).

Two Jamaats were held at Dhaka University central mosque at 8 am and 9 am while three other Jamaats were held on Shahidullah Hall lawn, Salimullah Muslim Hall premises and Fazlul Haque Muslim Hall ground.

Besides a Eid Jamaat was held at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) ground at 8 am. Four-eid jamaats were also held at Mohakhali Masjid Gaushul Azam at 7 am, 8 am, 9.30 am and 10.15 am.

Bangladesh Masjid Missan organised two jamaats at its central mosque Kataban at 7 am and 8.15 am. Separate Eid jamaats were held at 7 am at Brothers Union play ground, Lalmatia Mosque and Malibagh Jam-e Masjid.

Eid Jamaats were also held at Dhanmondhi eidgah maidan, Mohammadpur Jame Mosque complex eidgah maidan, Azimpur govt. colony eidgah maidan, Lalbagh Killah Mosque and SOS Children's Village Jame Mosque at Shyamali at 8-15 am.

The last jamaat was held in the city at 11.25 am at Azimpur Diera Sharif Diemiah Shahi jame Mosque.