This year the Eid coincides with the first day of the New Year, which the countrymen, particularly the residents of the capital, will start celebrating as soon as the clock strikes zero hour tonight.

After the Eid prayers, well-to-do Muslims will sacrifice animals commemorating the readiness of Hazrat Ibrahim (A) to give up his dearest son Hazrat Ismail (A) to attain nearness of Allah. They will share sacrificial meat with their relatives, neighbours and poor people according to the religious dictates.

On the occasion of the Eid-ul-Azha, President and Chief Adviser Iajuddin Ahmed, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, Awami League (AL) Chief Sheikh Hasina and other political leaders gave separate messages yesterday greeting the people. In addition, different organisations and individuals including Bangladesh Christian Association and the Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) greeted the Muslims across the country.

Hundreds of thousands of people have already left Dhaka for their village homes in the last few days to celebrate the festival with their near and dear ones after going through the hurdles of managing tickets for buses, trains and launches. The rush for home will culminate today.

In the capital, important public buildings will be illuminated and main streets and road islands will be decorated with miniature national flags and banners inscribed with 'Eid Mubarak' under government initiative.

The main Eid congregation will be held at the Jatiya Eidgah Maidan in front of the Supreme Court at 8:00am. Five congregations will take place at Baitul Mokarram National Mosque at 7:00am, 8:00am, 9:00am, 10:00am and 11:00am.

In case of inclement weather, the congregation at the Baitul Mokarram at 8:00am will be considered as the main congregation, says a PID handout.

Separate arrangements have been made at the Eidgah for women, diplomats and their wives.

The schedules of some major Eid congregations in the capital are -- Gulshan Central Mosque Eidgah field at 8:15am, Lalbagh Shahi Mosque at 8:30am, Masjidul Akbar Complex at Mirpur 1 at 8:30am, Nayapaltan Jame Mosque at 8:00am, Sher-e-Bangla Agriculture University at 8:15am, SOS Children's Village International at 8:15am, Maghbazar T&T Colony Jame Mosque at 8:00am, Tejgaon Government High School field at 8:30am and Kalabagan Basiruddin Road Jame Mosque at 8:30am. Besides, there will be two congregations at the Dhaka University Central Mosque at 8:00am and at 9:00am.

Like the previous years, the DCC will organise a total of 361 Eid congregations with four in each of the 90 DCC wards in the city and one at Dhaka University playground.

The last Eid congregation will be held at Azimpur Chhoto Daira Sharif at 11:30am.

The state-run Bangladesh Betar and BTV and private TV channels will air special programmes on the occasion and during the Eid holidays. The national dailies have brought out special supplements today highlighting the significance of the Eid-ul-Azha.

Special meals will be served at jails, orphanages, vagrant centres and dormitories on the day.

The Shishu Park at Shahbagh will remain open from 2:00pm to 7:00pm today, from 2:00pm to 7:30om on the Eid day and from 11:00am to 7:30pm for four consecutive days after the Eid.

AL President Sheikh Hasina will exchange greetings with heads of diplomatic missions, members of the diplomatic corps and representatives of development partners in Dhaka on the occasion between 11:00am to 12:00noon at her office at house No 51/A, Road no 3, Dhanmondi, says a press release.