Bangladesh is celebrating the holy Eid-ul-Azha, the second biggest religious festival of the Muslims, amid the pandemic on Saturday with due solemnity and religious fervor.
The Eid-ul-Azha is celebrated on the 10th of Zilhajj month of the Hizri calendar as Hazrat Ibrahim (AS), on this day, some 4,500 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 across the country 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.
National flag of Bangladesh being hoisted at Baitul Mukarram mosque Rajib Dhar President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages, greeting the Muslims in Bangladesh and all over the world on the occasion of the Eid-ul-Azha.
Besides, opposition leader in the parliament Begum Raushan Ershad also greeted the nation on the eve of the holy Eid-ul Azha festival.
Considering the Covid-19 pandemic throughout the world including Bangladesh, Muslims are celebrating the Eid-ul-Azha festival following strict health rules.
Muslims performing Eid prayer by maintaining social distance as much as possible Rajib Dhar The festival appeared very unlikely to resemble that of previous years as many countries banned the traditional Eid congregations as part of anti-coronavirus measures.
Bangladesh authorities urged people to stay in their current abodes discouraging plans for larger family gatherings at their ancestral homes as part of the desperate measures to prevent Covid-19 spread.
Muslims around the world are celebrating the festival with millions under strict stay-at-home orders and many fearing renewed coronavirus outbreaks.
Muslim devotees gathered at Baitul Mukarram mosque to offer Eid prayer Rajib Dhar The government has declared three days official holiday—on Friday, Saturday and Sunday during the Eid. The government officials and employees have been asked to stay their duty place during the Eid holiday.
Meanwhile, a public notice by the Religious Affairs Ministry on Friday said that “Islam encourages performing Eid prayer at Eidgah or open ground. But considering the health safety, worshipers are being instructed to perform prayers at mosques, following social distancing. If necessary, more than one jamaat will be arranged at different time slots.
“As well as all the health guidelines must be followed by the devotees, failing which government authorities and police will take legal action,” according to the public notice.
