The holy Eid-ul-Azha, the second biggest religious festival of the Muslim community, is going to be celebrated across the country tomorrow (Wednesday) with due solemnity, religious fervour and zeal.
However, like the previous year the nation will celebrate the Eid-ul-Azha amid the Covid-19 pandemic that keeps the people away from leading a normal life.
Against this backdrop, there will be no Eid jamaat (congregations) at the National Eidgah in Dhaka. However, five Eid congregations will be held at the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque in the capital.
According a press release issued by the Religious Affairs Ministry, the first Eid jamaat will be held at 7:00 am and the next four will be held at 8:00 am, 9:00 am, 10:00 am and 10:45am at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque.
Meanwhile, the government had eased the ongoing restrictions since Thursday ahead of Eid-ul-Azha and allowed the Eid jamaat at Eidgah or other open place across the country, maintaining health guidelines.
The move is an exception to the last three Eid festivals when the government had urged the Muslim devotees to avoid Eidgah or other open place for Eid jamaat and offer prayers at mosques maintaining physical distancing and using masks and hand sanitisers.
The Religious Affairs Ministry said that the decision for Eid jamaat in mosque, Eidgah and other open place should be finalised through discussions with local people’s representatives and respected persons of the areas and maintaining the Covid-19 health guidelines. People are also requested to avoid hugging and shaking hands at the end of Eid jamaat to prevent the spread of Covid-19 transmission.
According to the government notice, soap and hand sanitiser should be kept at the place of ablution in the mosque or Eidgah. Hand sanitiser, soap and water for handwashing should be kept at the entrances of the mosques as well.
On the other hand, wearing mask Muslims began performing the holy Hajj on Monday in Saudi Arabia. That country is celebrating Eid-ul-Azha today (July 20).
Bangladesh usually celebrates the Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Azha a day after Saudi Arabia. Like the previous year, no Bangladeshis joined the Hajj this year as the Saudi authorities last month banned foreign pilgrims due to the pandemic situation. The kingdom allowed only 60,000 vaccinated residents to perform Hajj this year. It is the second year in a row that the country hosting a downscaled Hajj amid the global Covid-19 pandemic.
The Eid-ul-Azha is celebrated on the 10th of Zilhajj month to commemorate the supreme sacrifice of Hazrat Ibrahim (AS). The prophet kept having a dream of slaughtering his son Hazrat Ismail (AS) to fulfill the wishes of Allah. Prophet Ibrahim explained his dreams to his son. On hearing his father’s dream, Ismail asked him to comply with the wishes.
On the 10th of Zilhajj some 4,500 years ago, Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) offered to sacrifice his beloved son, but the Almighty in His benign mercy spared Hazrat Ismail (AS) and instead sent a ram to be sacrificed.
Angel Jibreel told Prophet Ibrahim that Allah is pleased by his devotion and has sent the sheep to slaughter in place of his son. Ever since then, this day is celebrated as Eid ul-Azha, where Muslims perform the ritual of cattle sacrifice.
To commemorate this historic event, the Muslims of Bangladesh as well other parts of the world will offer prayers in congregations and sacrifice animals in the name of Almighty Allah. They will offer munajat seeking divine blessings for peace, progress and prosperity of the country as well as welfare of the Muslim Ummah.
State-run Bangladesh Television, BTV and Bangladesh Betar and other TV channels and radio stations would broadcast special programmes on the occasion of the Eid-ul-Azha. On the occasion, important public and private buildings will be illuminated in the capital and other cities.
On the day, improved diets will be served to inmates of government hospitals, prisons, orphanages, safe homes and shelter centers.
