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Eid-ul-Azha celebrated

By Staff Correspondent
Eid-ul-Azha. embodying the spirit of sacrifice, was celebrated in the country Thursday with due solemnity and religious fervour.
All across the country. Muslims who could afford it sacrificed cattle and goats, emulating the example set by Hazrat Ibrahim who ditj not hesitate to sacrifice his most beloved son Ismail at the command of the Almighty. The sacrificial meal was distributed among the poor, neighbours, relatives and friends. According to custom, animals can be sacrificed on all three days of the festival, including up to the Asr prayers on the third day. which was yesterday.
A three-day public holiday lor the second biggest Muslim JesUval-ended Mov.’ever.a । attendance in most govern-
meiit and private oifices remained vpry-tbin yesterday.
In the city. the. main Eld congregation was hgld at the National Eidgah. Maulana Emdadul Haq led the prayers which were attended by ministers. members of Parliament, politicians, the city mayor. Supreme Court Judges, high officials, elite and members of the public.
, Eid congregations were also held at the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque as well as other mosques and eidgahs tn the city. Special munajat was offered for continued peace, progress and welfare of the country as well as greater solidarity and unity of the Muslim brotherhood across the world.
Various socio-cultural organisations held discussions and seminars on the significance ofc the festival.
Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia held a reception at her Hare Road office Thursday morning. Ministers. MPs. civil and military officials and elite
of the city attended the programme.
Most of the middle and working class people living In the capital left for their village homes to celebrate the festival with their near and dear ones, giving the city an almost deserted look.
In many places, because of unhygienic disposal of the animal wastes as well as extended. unauthorised leave of the City Corporation sweepers and scavengers, foul stench pervaded the air. causing great hardship to the people. Piles of garbage, with decomposing animal entrails, remained heaped by the roadsides, awaiting disposal by the garbage cleaners even until Saturday night. Many people, especially young children, were shocked by the pools of blood left uncleaned along the lanes and sidewalks by people who slaughtered their animals on the open roads.
Unlike previous years, the prices of cattle in the city’s various Eld markets was unusually low, especially on the eve of the Eid. because of an exceptionally high supply of beef cattle. Even goats were cheaper this year. In fact, according to a survey of most of the 17 cattle markets in the city, cows and bulls, fattened especially for the occasion, sold almost dirt cheap.
Prices dipped so low Wednesday, even by comparison to the previous day. that many cattle traders were seen openly weeping and ruing the fact that they had held on to their cows loo long in the vain hope of getting better prices. As a result, many people who otherwise sacrifice goats or share a ow or bull, managed to sacrifice a whole cow.
However, as usual, the prices of most other items In eluding spices went up over the Eld season.