Large-scale animal sacrifices marking the Islamic festival of Eid al-Adha combined with heavy rains have turned the streets of Bangladesh's capital into rivers of blood.

Authorities in Dhaka designated several places where residents could slaughter animals, but heavy downpours on Tuesday meant few people could use those areas.

Muslims traditionally mark Eid al-Adha, or the Feast of Sacrifice, by slaughtering livestock.

Usually a goat, sheep or a cow is killed to commemorate Prophet Ibrahim's test of faith.

The meat from the sacrificed animals is the shared among family and friends and poor people who cannot afford to sacrifice their own animals as a gesture of generosity to promote social harmony.

Dhaka residents used parking areas, garages and alleys to kill the animals and the blood flowed into the flooded streets, turning them into rivers of blood.