The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Chittagong

Eid-ul-Azha, the second largest religious festival of the Muslims, is being celebrated in the Port city and different parts of the district as elsewhere in the country with the spirit of sacrifice, total surrender to the Almighty Allah in line with the inherent teachings of the holy event.

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).

Chittagong Metropolitan and District Police sources said Eid-ul-Azha Jamaats in the city and district were held, the festival is being celebrated, the day's obvious ritual-slaughtering of sacrificial animals is also being done with complete peace and festivity.

Of the total Eid congregations, 131 were held in 41 wards in the city under the auspices of CCC while CCEJC organised 118 throughout the city. Of the biggest three, two Eid congregations were held at Jamiatul Falah Mosque premises successively at 8 AM and 830 AM while rest was held at M.A. Aziz Stadium at 8.15 AM.

A large number of muslim devotees participated in the Congregations and prayed for Divine blessings for the continued peace, prosperity and stability of the country as well as Muslim Ummah.

The devotees also prayed to the Almighty Allah for the salvation of the departed souls of 'Sidr' victims and early recovery of survivors, quick returning to normal life from the devastation. The law enforcing agencies had taken adequate security measures by deploying RAB, BDR, Police and Ansars at various strategic points in the city to keep watchful eyes on law and order before and after the Eid festival in checking any trouble centering cattle hide trading and any attempt to smuggle those.

As the prayers over, affluent people seen offering their sacrificial animals by slaughtering those in the name of Allah in commemoration of the supreme sacrifice made by the Hazrat Ibrahim (AS).

Other major Eid Congregation were held at Andarkilla Shahi Jame Mosque, Laldhighi Maidan, Parade Maidan, Masjeed-e-Baitus Sharf at Kadamtali, Pologround Railway Public High School Maidan, Shah Amanat Shah (Rh)Dargah Maidan, Metropolitan Police line Maidan, Agrabad Jamboree field, Bayzeed Bostami (Rh) Dargah Mosque in between 7.30 AM to 9.00 AM.

Besides, programmes were taken to illuminate and decorate the important city corners and public buildings on this occasion.

Concerned authorities have also served improved diets in the hospitals, jails, orphanages, and also in youth and juveniles centers run by the Social Welfare departments.

CCC sources said 1845 contingency staffs have been engaged in the city with 101 waste disposing vehicles to remove the garbage and waste of sacrificial animals.

According to reports reaching here from fourteen upazilas under the district that people in the rural areas are also celebrating the festival with huge zeal and enthusiasm.