Eid-ul-Azha returns with outward sacrifice tied to inner purification

With prayers rising and knives sharpened, Bangladesh welcomes Eid-ul-Azha-- a festival where outward sacrifice meets the deeper demand for inner purification.

The ritual sacrifice of animals at the heart of this occasion is intended to nurture a spirit of selflessness, a sentiment beautifully captured in the verses of nation poet Kazi Nazrul Islam’s “Shahidi Eid”: “Moner poshure kor jobai/ poshurao bache, bache sobai, roughly translated to “sacrifice your inner beast/then everyone, along with the animals, will live on.”

This sacred Muslim festival, one of the most significant in the Islamic calendar, will be observed across the country on Saturday.

As in previous years, the principal Eid congregation is scheduled for 7:30am at the National Eidgah Maidan in Dhaka.

Should weather conditions turn unfavourable, the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) has confirmed that the main prayer will instead be held at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque at 8:00am.

This year’s Eid arrives at a politically delicate juncture for Bangladesh.

In the wake of a major power transition, political parties are already preparing the ground for the next general election, expected to be held sometime between December 2025 and June 2026.

The Awami League, out of office for the first time in 15 and a half years, remains largely absent from the political landscape.

Party President Sheikh Hasina and most senior leaders are either abroad or in hiding.

The interim government led by Muhammad Yunus, now 10 months into office, has banned the Awami League's activities and initiated judicial proceedings against the former prime minister and other senior party members.

Hasina has remained in India since her ousting on Aug 5, 2024.

Meanwhile, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has returned to Bangladesh after receiving medical treatment in London, following a legal reprieve from her previous convictions.

The country is currently experiencing what is considered one of the longest Eid-ul-Azha holidays in recent memory, beginning on Thursday.

With offices previously open on two Saturdays, the Eid break will extend until Jun 14, offering a full 10-day holiday.

Though the holiday spirit remains palpable, market activity has reflected a more measured tone.

While livestock markets across the country, especially in Dhaka, have reported brisk sales of medium and small-sized cattle, the trade in large sacrificial animals has notably declined.

Commenting on this shift, Home Advisor Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said: “In the past, pockets were filled with corrupt money. Now, that money is gone. That’s why they can’t afford the big cattle anymore.”

With the holiday exodus well under way, traffic congestion gripped major highways out of Dhaka from Wednesday afternoon.

By Thursday, long tailbacks were reported across key routes as thousands of city dwellers made their way to their hometowns.

An inter-ministerial high-level committee has been tasked with overseeing Eid celebrations, including management of sacrificial animals, hides, and waste.

The committee, led by Commerce Advisor Sheikh Bashir Uddin, includes several other advisors as well as representatives from public and private institutions.

DSCC Administrator Shahjahan Mia confirmed that all arrangements for the Eid congregations at the National Eidgah have been finalised.

Across the capital, streets have been adorned with banners and flags in celebration, with major roads and dividers draped in colour.

On Saturday, special meals will be served at public hospitals, prisons, orphanages, children’s homes, centres for people with disabilities, government shelters, child development centres, safe homes, vagrant welfare centres, and facilities for the destitute.

State media outlets--Bangladesh Betar and Bangladesh Television--as well as private TV channels are airing special Eid programming before and after the holiday, blending celebration with reflection for viewers across the country.

In his Eid message, President Mohammed Shahabuddin urged the public to share the joy of the festival with the country’s poor and underprivileged.

Extending greetings to all citizens and Muslims around the world, he said: “Our society includes many people living in poverty and hardship. Inspired by the ideals of equality and brotherhood that Eid-ul-Azha upholds, we must share our joy with them.

“Let the spirit of sacrifice reflect in our personal, social and national lives--that is our collective hope.”

He added, “As we offer animal sacrifices on the holy Eid-ul-Azha, let us also pray to rid ourselves of inner malice, hatred and resentment. May this sacred occasion bring welfare and prosperity to all.”

In a separate message marking the festival, Chief Advisor Yunus called upon the nation to embrace the values of sacrifice in order to build a fairer and more peaceful society in post-uprising Bangladesh.

“Let us embrace the lesson of sacrifice taught by Eid-ul-Azha and strive to build a Bangladesh that is free of inequality, where happiness, prosperity and peace prevail,” he said.

He added, “Eid-ul-Azha teaches peace, sacrifice and equality. Muslims share the meat of sacrificial animals with poor relatives and the needy, creating bonds of fraternity.

“Let this spirit of sacrifice, purification, harmony and compassion spread across our personal, family, social and national lives.”

RAIN LIKELY ON EID DAY

This year’s Eid-ul-Azha may see rainfall in parts of the country, prompting concerns for both travel and the Eid congregations.

The Meteorological Department has forecast a higher chance of rain in Chattogram and Sylhet divisions, while other regions are likely to experience comparatively less rainfall.

Meteorologist Md Omar Faruk noted that showers are common in the latter part of the Bengali month of Jaishtha, adding that isolated rainfall may occur on the day of Eid.

EID PRAYERS

As in previous years, Baitul Mukarram National Mosque in Dhaka will host five congregations for Eid-ul-Azha.

The first Eid prayer will begin at 7am, led by Khalilur Rahman Madani, principal of Tamirul Millat Kamil Madrasah.

At 8am, Maulana Abu Saleh Patwari, a mufassir from the Islamic Foundation, will lead the second congregation.

The third prayer is scheduled for 9am, with Mushtaq Ahmad, editor of the foundation’s translation and compilation department, officiating.

Mufti Md Abdullah of the Islamic Foundation will lead the fourth prayer at 10am.

The fifth and final congregation, at 10:45am, will be led by Maulana Mohammad Nur Uddin, a language instructor at the foundation.

In Kishoreganj, the country’s largest congregation will take place at the historic Sholakia Eidgah Maidan at 9am.

To accommodate devotees, two special trains named Sholakia Express will run on Eid day—one on the Kishoreganj–Mymensingh route and the other on the Bhairab–Kishoreganj route.

In Chattogram, the main Eid congregation will be held at 7:30am at the Jamiatul Falah Mosque grounds, followed by a second prayer at the same venue at 8:30am.

Barishal’s main Eid congregation will take place at the Hemayet Uddin Central Eidgah ground at 7:30am.

Another Eid prayer will be held at the Barishal District Model Mosque and Islamic Cultural Centre, located at Amtala intersection.

In Rangpur, the main congregation will begin at 8am at the Collectorate Eidgah ground, where Maulana Md Bayezid Hossain, the khatib of Rangpur Keramotia Jame Mosque, will lead the prayer.

SACRIFICIAL ANIMAL WASTE DISPOSAL

Both the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) and DSCC have pledged to remove sacrificial waste on the same day during Eid-ul-Azha, with preparations reportedly in place to meet this target.

DSCC Administrator Shahjahan said, “Our waste management work will start from the afternoon of Eid. Our commitment is -- clean up sacrificial waste within 12 hours.

“We have prepared about 10,000 workers for cleaning this waste. The necessary city corporation vehicles are also ready.”

DNCC Administrator Mohammad Ejaz echoed the same, confirming that 10,000 workers are on standby to ensure same-day waste disposal. A three-day cleanliness drive will follow Eid.

The DNCC estimates about 20,000 tonnes of waste will be generated this Eid.

A total of 224 dump trucks, 381 pickups, and 24 payloaders will be employed in waste management and 1.25 million polythene bags, 2,500 bleach packets and 4,000 containers of Savlon have been distributed for cleaning.

The DNCC has announced that two trenches will be dug in Amin Bazar for “environmentally friendly” waste management.

HIDE PRICES RAISED

The government has fixed the prices for sacrificial animal hides ahead of Eid, with the price of cow hides rising by Tk 5 and goat hides by Tk 2 compared with last year.

Tannery traders in Dhaka will buy salted cow hides at Tk 60 to Tk 65 per square foot, up from Tk 55 to Tk 60 last year.

Outside Dhaka, salted cow hides will fetch Tk 55 to Tk 60 per square foot, up from Tk 50 to Tk 55 previously.

Salt-cured goat hides (from black goats) will be sold to tanneries at Tk 22 to Tk 27 per square foot, compared with Tk 20 to Tk 25 last year.

The regular goat hides will be priced at Tk 20 to Tk 22 per square foot, up from Tk 18 to Tk 20 previously.

In a related move, the commerce ministry has imposed a 10-day ban starting on Eid day on the transportation of rawhides into Dhaka from different districts.

Advisor Bashir said on Tuesday that 30,000 tonnes of salt have been distributed nationwide to facilitate effective preservation of hides in districts outside the capital.