Dhaka: Eid-ul-Azha, the second largest religious festival for Muslims, was celebrated across Bangladesh on Thursday with due religious fervour and festivity. Muslim devotees participated in Eid prayers at Eidgahs and mosques nationwide in the morning, followed by exchanging of Eid greetings.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the central Eid congregation took place at the National Eidgah on the Supreme Court premises in the capital. President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman joined hundreds of devotees for the prayers. They participated in a munajat with the congregation, seeking blessings for the Muslim Ummah and the nation. Attendees included the Chief Justice, cabinet members, Supreme Court judges, lawmakers, political leaders, diplomats, and high-ranking civil and military officials. The prayers were conducted by Mufti Muhammad Abdul Malek, Khatib of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque.
A special munajat was offered after the prayers, seeking divine blessings for peace, progress,
and prosperity in Bangladesh, and the welfare of its people and the Muslim Ummah. In Dhaka, Baitul Mukarram National Mosque hosted multiple Eid congregations starting from 7:00 am until 10:45 am. Another congregation occurred at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.
President Shahabuddin, along with his spouse Dr Rebecca Sultana, exchanged Eid greetings at Bangabhaban with people from various sectors. Notable attendees included cabinet members, the chief election commissioner, judges, the cabinet secretary, Armed Forces chiefs, foreign envoys, the Bangladesh Bank governor, and the inspector general of police. Distinguished personalities, senior politicians, writers, journalists, teachers, intellectuals, and high-ranking civil and military officials also attended the reception.
In the morning, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman visited Zia Udyan to pay respects at his parents’ graves, offering a munajat for Eid. He also visited his brother Arafat Rahman Koko’s grave at Banani graveyard. In the afternoon,
he joined a feast hosted by the Bangladesh Army’s 25th East Bengal Regiment, known as “Mrittunjoyee Potchis,” at Zia Colony in Dhaka Cantonment, attended by army officers and soldiers.
Muslims across Bangladesh commenced the ritual of slaughtering sacrificial animals after the morning prayers, seeking blessings from the Almighty Allah. This practice of Qurbani commemorates Hazrat Ibrahim’s (AS) devotion and readiness to sacrifice his son Hazrat Ismail (AS) as per Allah’s command, which was later symbolically replaced with an animal by Allah.
The government facilitated a weeklong holiday starting May 25 to enable public and private sectors to celebrate the festival, but essential services continued to operate. Special programming related to the festival was broadcasted by Bangladesh Television, Bangladesh Betar, and private channels, while special meals were provided at hospitals, orphanages, prisons, and child care centres.
In Kishoreganj, the 199th congregation of Eid-ul-Azha took place at Sholakia Eidgah
with about 100,000 devotees attending despite heavy rain. Another significant congregation occurred at Gor-e-Shahid Boro Maidan in Dinajpur district at 8:30 am.