The holy Eid-ul-Azha, the second biggest religious festival of the Muslims, will be celebrated in the country on July 10 (Sunday) as the new moon of the Arabic month of Zilhaj was sighted in Bangladesh sky on Thursday.

The decision was made at a meeting of the National Moon Sighting Committee after reviewing information about the sighting of the Jilhaj moon, said Md Abdul Awal Hawlader, additional secretary to the Religious Affairs Ministry.

The meeting was held at the office of the Islamic Foundation at Baitul Mukarram in the evening with Awal Hawlader in the chair.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, he said the moon of the holy month of Jilhaj was sighted in the sky of Bangladesh today (Thursday).

Awal also said the month of Zilhajj will begin on July 1 (Friday). “So, the Eid-ul-Azha will be cleared in Bangladesh on July 10.”

Muslims celebrate the Eid-ul-Azha on the 10th of Zilhaj to uphold the true spirit of sacrifice made by Prophet Ibrahim (AS).

On this day, some 4,000 years ago, Prophet Ibrahim (AS) had offered to sacrifice his son Ismail, who willingly submitted to the will of his father to please Allah.

But the Almighty in His benign mercy spared Hazrat Ismail and instead sent a ram to be sacrificed.

Muslims all over the world slaughter sacrificial animals to commemorate the historic event on the day. They will also offer prayers in congregations and sacrifice animals in the name of Almighty Allah.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries will celebrate Eid-ul-Azha on July 9. The religious festival marks the end of hajj which will start this year on July 6.