Holy Eid-ul-Azha, the second largest religious festival of the Muslims, will be celebrated across the country on September 2 as the new moon of the month of Zilhaj was sighted in Bangladesh sky yesterday.

The National Moon Sighting Committee took the decision at a meeting after reviewing reports received from different parts of the country, Religious Affairs Minister Motiur Rahman said at a press briefing at the Islamic Foundation in the evening.

Shamim Mohammad Afzal, director general of Islamic Foundation, and other committee members attended the meeting at the foundation's conference room at Baitul Mukarram.

The Muslims celebrate Eid-ul-Azha on the 10th of Zilhaj to commemorate the true spirit of the sacrifice made by Hazrat Ibrahim (AS). On this day some 4,000 years ago, Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) had offered to sacrifice his beloved son Hazrat Ismail (AS) who willingly submitted to the will of his father to please Allah.

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