DHAKA, June 7, 2025 (BSS) - The holy Eid-ul-Azha, the second biggest religious festival of the Muslims, was celebrated today across the country with due solemnity, religious fervor and zeal. Eid-ul-Azha is celebrated on the 10th day of Zilhajj, the final month of the Hijri calendar, commemorating the event that took place around 4,500 years ago when Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) offered to sacrifice his beloved son Hazrat Ismail (AS) who willingly submitted to his father's will in devotion to Allah. But the Almighty Allah, 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 offer prayers in congregations and sacrifice animals in the name of Almighty Allah. Marking the festival, the Muslims of the country today offered Eid prayers at Eidgahs, mosques and residences across the country and later offered munajat, seeking divine blessings for peace, progress and prosperity of the country as well as the welfare of the Muslim Ummah. The main congregation of the holy Eid-ul-Azha was held at the Jatiya Eidgah on the High Court premises at 7:30am. Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus,  Chief Justice, judges of the Supreme Court and High Court divisions, members of the Council of Advisers, leaders of various political parties, senior government officials and diplomats of various Muslim countries stationed in Dhaka along with thousands of the Muslim devotees offered prayers there. Law enforcing agencies ensured necessary security measures to ensure the safety of devotees. Like every year, five Eid Jamaats were held at Baitul Mukarram mosque. The first Jamaat took place at 7am, followed by the others at 8 am, 9 am, 10 am and 10:45 am respectively, said an Islamic Foundation release.   Likewise every year, the country’s oldest Eid congregation was held at the historic Sholakia Eidgah in Kishoreganj district this morning. The Eidgah ground turned into a human sea as a large number of the devotees today thronged the ground to offer their Eid-ul-Azha prayers. The Eid-jammat at Sholakia was held at 9:00 am. For the convenience of the devotees two special trains named Sholakia Express were operated on the Kishoreganj-Mymensingh and Bhairab-Kishoreganj routes. Khatib of Boro Bazar Masjid in the town Mufti Abul Khair Mohammad Saifullah conducted the prayers. In Dinajpur, the country's one of the largest Eid-ul-Azha congregation was held at Gor-e-Shahid Boro Maidan with the participation of a large number of devotees. Gor-e-Shahid Central Eidgah Maidan is spread over about 23 acres of land. Devotees from all over the country participated in this congregation. In Dhaka University, two Eid Jamaats were held at the university’s central mosque -Masjidul Jamiya on the campus. Eid congregations were also held at mosques and Eidgahs across the country.  After offering prayers, devotees sacrificed cattle on the first day of Eid according to their ability in the hope of attaining infinite grace from Almighty Allah. Some devotees will also slaughter cattle tomorrow, the second day of the Eid.  Dhaka South and North City Corporations began its activities to remove wastes of sacrificial animals this afternoon.  The corporation authorities requested the city dwellers to extend cooperation to their officials-employees to clean the city properly. Adequate security measures were taken by the law enforcement agencies to ensure law and order across the country, including the capital Dhaka marking the holy Eid-ul-Azha. State-run Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar as well as private TV channels and radio stations have been broadcasting special programmes on the occasion and it will continue for several days. Chief of Army Staff General Waker-Uz-Zaman and Chief of the Navy Staff Admiral M Nazmul Hassan met Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on the occasion. The army and navy chiefs along with their spouses called on Prof Yunus respectively at the State Guest House Jamuna here this afternoon, Chief Adviser's Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder told BSS. The government directed the CNG filling stations to remain open for 24 hours during Eid holidays to facilitate the easy movement of homebound people. In this regard, the Power Division has asked all CNG filling stations to remain open round-the-clock on Eid day, seven days before the Eid and five days after the festival. As a large number of city dwellers went to their village homes to celebrate the festival with their dear and near ones, the streets of the capital became deserted and vehicular movement is also seen very thin.