DHAKA, July 11, 2021 (BSS) - Eid-ul-Azha, the second largest religious festival of the Muslims, will be celebrated across the country on July 21 (Wednesday), as the crescent moon of the Arabic month of Zilhaj of 1442 Hijri was sighted in the sky of Bangladesh today.
 
   The National Moon Sighting Committee came up with the decision in the evening at a meeting held at the Islamic Foundation's conference room in the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque here, said an Islamic Foundation press release.
 
   State Minister for Religious Affairs and Chairman of the National Moon Sighting Committee Md Faridul Haque Khan presided over the meeting, it said.
 
   The Eid-ul-Azha is celebrated on the 10th day of Zilhaj month of the lunar calendar as Hazrat Ibrahim (AS), on this day, offered to sacrifice his beloved son Hazrat Ismail (AS) who willingly submitted to the will of his father to please Allah some 4,500 years back.
 
   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 all over the world slaughter sacrificial animals and draw inspiration from the unique example of sacrifice to please Allah as shown by two great prophets -- Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) and his son Hazrat Ismail (AS).
 
   On the occasion, 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 getting rid of the global pandemic coronavirus and peace, progress and prosperity of the country as well as the welfare of the Muslim Ummah.