Eid-ul-Azha, a major religious festival of the Muslims, will be celebrated across the country on Saturday with due solemnity, sense of sacrifice and religious fervour amid the ongoing COVID-19 crisis and the flood that hit half of the country’s districts.

On this day, the 10th of Arabic month of Zilhajj, 4,000 years ago, Prophet Ibrahim (AS) offered to sacrifice his beloved son Hazrat Ismail (AS) who willingly submitted to his father’s wish to please Almighty Allah.

But the Almighty in His benign mercy spared Hazrat Ismail (AS) and instead placed a sheep to be sacrificed.

Commemorating the supreme sacrifice of Prophet Ibrahim (AS), Muslims all over the world slaughter animals taking inspiration from the unique examples of sacrifice to please Allah set by the two prophets.

The celebration will begin with Eid congregations all over the country followed by sacrifice of cattle heads in the name of Allah.

Due to the COVID-19 world pandemic, the Eid congregations would be held at mosques across the country and the government asked the devotees to maintain social distancing during Eid prayers.

The country’s main Eid jamaat will be held at Baitul Mukarrom National Mosque where a total of six jamaats will be held between 7:00am and 11:10am.

Meanwhile, thousands of people have left the capital and other major cities in crowded transports for their homes to celebrate Eid with their near and dear ones, ignoring the risk of COVID-19 infection.

People are also swarming the makeshift cattle markets in the capital as elsewhere in the country for procuring sacrificial animals. They are making their choices and buying cattle heads as per their ability from among different sizes of mostly cows and goats.

On Thursday, 2,695 coronavirus detection was recorded in a day in the country, and the total death toll reached 3,083, including the death of 48 Covid-19 patients in the past 24 hours, according to health directorate data.

Parts of 32 districts, out of 64, in the country has been witnessing flood and the poor people had been crying for relief materials, reports received from the districts said.

Government has already announced July 31, August 1 and 2 public holidays for the Eid, including July 31 and August 1 as weekends. Newspaper offices would also remain closed for four days until August 3.

State-run BTV and private television channels will broadcast special programmes on the occasion of Eid. Newspapers will publish special supplements on the occasion.

Authorities have asked the police and other law enforcement agencies to ensure foolproof security in the capital city and at all sites of Eid congregations.

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

Important public and private buildings would be illuminated in the capital city.

President Abdul Hamid, prime minister Sheikh Hasina and BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir in separate messages greeted the Muslims in Bangladesh and all over the world on the occasion of Eid.

The main Jamaat in Chattogram will be held at Jamiatul Falah Masjid, at Town Jame Masjid in Khulna, at Sadar Upazila Parishad Jame Masjid in Barishal, at Hazrat Shahjalal (Rh) Sharine Mosque in Sylhet, at Hazrat Shah Makhdum (Rh) Central Jame Masjid in Rajshshi and the main jamaat in Mymensingh will be held at Eidgah Masjid in the city, New Age correspondents reported.