DHAKA: Bangladesh is celebrating the largest religious festival of Muslims -- Eid-ul-Azha -- on Friday with due solemnity and religious fervor.

The Muslims across the country are offering special prayers in congregations and sacrificing animals in the name of Almighty Allah.

They are offering munajat seeking divine blessings for peace, progress and prosperity of the country as well as welfare of the Muslim ummah.

The government has taken elaborate programs to celebrate Eid-ul-Azha.

The Eid-ul-Azha is celebrated on the 10th of Zilhajj month of the Hizri calendar as Hazrat Ibrahim (AS), on this day some 4,000 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 in His benign mercy spared Hazrat Ismail (AS) and instead sent a ram to be sacrificed.

To commemorate this historic event, the Muslims all over the world slaughter sacrificial animals and draw inspiration from the unique example of sacrifice to please Allah as shown by two great prophets -- Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) and Hazrat Ismail (AS).

A three-day Eid holiday began Thursday in the country. Newspaper offices would also remain closed for three days until September 26.

State-run Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar as well as other television channels and radio stations are broadcasting special programs on eid. Newspapers and online portals have published special supplements on the occasion.

The national flag are being flown atop government and non-government buildings and roadside poles to mark the festival.

Important public and private buildings will be illuminated in the capital and other cities Friday night.

Meanwhile, millions of people have left the capital and other major cities to celebrate the eid with their near and dear ones in the countryside.

Eid congregations:
The main Eid-ul-Azha congregation in capital Dhaka was held at the National Eidgah at 8:00am on Friday.

Baitul Mukarram senior imam Mohammad Mizanur Rahman conducted the prayers, which was attended by President Abdul Hamid, cabinet members, MPs, politicians, diplomats and people of other professions.
 
Special arrangements were made for women to say eid prayer at the National Eidgah. Five eid congregations were also set to be held separately at the Baitul Mukarram beginning from 7:00am.

Bangladesh's biggest congregation was held, as usual, at Sholakia Eidgah in Kishoreganj at 9:00am.

Waste Management:
Ahead of the Eid-ul-Azha, both city corporations in Dhaka have urged all to use the certain places for slaughtering sacrificial animals and bags for faster disposal of wastes.

The corporations for the first time have fixed as many as 595 spots to sacrifice animals.

The target of the corporations is to remove waste from the capital within 48 hours from the noon of eid day, officials said.

Security:
Besides, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has already boosted security of cattle markets, rail stations, bus stands, launch terminals and shopping malls in city to ensure smooth celebration of the eid.

BDST: 0746/0932 HRS, SEP 25, 2015
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