While Bangladesh is set to observe Eid-ul-Azha tomorrow (June 7), following the moon sighting, several villages across multiple districts celebrated the festival today, aligning with Saudi Arabia. 

Devotees in these communities performed Eid prayers and animal sacrifices, upholding a decades-old tradition.

In Chandpur’s Hajiganj Upazila, approximately 50 villages, including Sadra, Sameshpur, and Alipur, marked Eid-ul-Azha on Friday, a practice rooted in the 97-year-old tradition of Pir Maulana Ishaq of Sadra Darbar Sharif. 

Thousands gathered at two Eidgahs, with the first congregation at 7:30 am led by Pirzada Maulana Mufti Zakaria Chowdhury at Sadra Darbar Sharif ground, followed by another at 8:00 am at Sadra Hamidiya Fazil Madrasa ground, led by Pirzada Maulana Mufti Arif Chowdhury. 

Local Russell explained, “Yesterday was the Day of Arafah globally, so today is Eid-ul-Azha, just as the Day of Judgment will be universal.” Saif, a visitor from Gopalganj, described his first Eid at Sadra Darbar as uplifting, vowing to return.

Similar celebrations occurred in Faridganj, Shahrasti, and Matlab Uttar upazilas, with prayers held between 8:00 am and 9:00 am in villages like Tor Munshir Hat and Sachanmegh. However, many in these areas will observe Eid on Saturday, per the government’s announcement.

In Madaripur, around 30,000 people across 25 villages, including Charkalikapur and Talluk, celebrated Eid-ul-Azha on Friday, following a 150-year tradition inspired by Hazrat Jan Sharif Shah Sureshwari of Sureshwar Darbar Sharif. The largest gathering took place at Talluk’s government primary school ground, led by Maulana Siddiqur Rahman. Villages like Ramarpul and Khaserhat also hosted prayers.

In Patuakhali, Eid congregations occurred in at least 25 locations across Galachipa, Baufal, and other upazilas, with Syed Arif Billah Rabbani leading the main prayer at Badarpur Darbar Sharif. 

Bhola saw 10 villages join the early celebrations, maintaining a century-long custom of aligning with Middle Eastern dates.

These communities, citing Islamic Sharia, celebrate Eid based on global moon sightings, reflecting a deep-rooted cultural and religious practice.

SMS/