“The day's program began with offering Eid prayers by Rohingyas at mosques and eidgahs (open fields) throughout Arakan State seeking peace and prosperity for the nation.”

In Maungdaw Township, Arakan State, the Township Administration Office collected kyat 2000 per head of sacrificial cattle through the local block/village administration offices, and Burma’s border security force (Nasaka) collected two Viss of meat per cow, said a local villager from Maungdaw. (One Viss = 1.64 Kg)

“In Maungdaw municipal area, the block administration office collected Kyat 2000 per cow, but in the rural areas the village administration offices collected more money from devotees. The hides of sacrificial cows were also collected by Township Development Committees,” the villager added.

In Buthidaung Township, the Nasaka also collected meat and money from sacrificial animals, said a businessman from Buthidaung Town.

Many Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh celebrated Eid-ul-Azha without meat on November 7, according to a refugee leader from the official Nayapara Refugee Camp.

Rohingyas who are not registered with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) received meat from an NGO, which generally donates supplies of meat to the camps during the festival every year, but refugees who are registered in Nayapara and Kutupalong camps did not receive any meat from the government or NGOs, said a refugee leader from Nayapara Camp.

However, some cows were provided to Nayapara Camp by the families of refugees who are living abroad. In addition, an NGO named Poor Aid distributed some goats and cows in Nayapara Camp. The camp is home to 3,209 families and over 12,000 refugees.

In Leda (Tal), an unofficial camp which does not receive any regular support from any quarter, received 60 sacrificial cows from an NGO, Turkey’s Humanitarian Aid Foundation. However, two of the cows were taken away by an ex-local named Mohamed Alam for his personal use. Two Rohingyas from outside helped the NGO distribute the sacrificial animals, but then took away all the hides. Leda (Tal) has 2,100 families and over 12,000 refugees. Every family received approximately 1.5 kg of meat, said a refugee from the camp.

In Kutupalong makeshift camp, the Turkish NGO, Turkey’s Humanitarian Aid Foundation also distributed another 60 sacrificial cows, but of them were taken away by an ex-local named Bokter for his personal use. Under his watch, 38 cows were distributed in the camp, but he took away all the hides. A new local named Abdul Haque distributed the remaining 20 cows in the camp. However, he took away all legs, bellies and hides. Refugees received 0.5 kg of meat per family. Kutupalong is home to 5,660 families and over 40,000 refugees, said a refugee leader who did not mention his name.

The refugees of Kutupalong official camp also did not receive any cows from government and NGOs, but some cows were distributed by relatives of refugees living in foreign countries. Kutupalong has 1,918 families and 12,083 refugees.

The officer of Nayapara Refugee Camp told the refugees that the Bangladeshi government had not made provisions for the camps and that he did not know what meat or other supplies would be available through NGOs.

“We tried to get assistance from NGOs as in the past, but I don’t know why this time they are not supplying meat to refugees.”

Eid-ul-Azha is a solemn, sacred festival which enables a person to enjoy, in the right spirit of Islam through Azha, sacrifice and surrender, resignation and renunciation, selflessness and total submission to the Will of God, said a religious leader from Maungdaw.

“Eid-ul-Azha, the largest religious festival of Muslims, brings Muslims divine blessing. It is an occasion not only to enjoy, but also to receive Allah's Mercy and reward through sacrifice and benevolence, patience and constancy.”