Holy Ramadan begins

The holy month of Ramadan began in the country Wednesday as the new moon was sighted in the sky of Bangladesh on Tuesday evening.

State Minister for Religious Affairs Md Faridul Haque Khan made the announcement after a meeting of the National Moon Sighting Committee at the conference room of Islamic Foundation (IF) at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque on Tuesday evening.

As per the decision, the holy Shab-e-Qadr or Lailatul Qadr, the night when the first verses of the holy Quran were revealed to Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH), will be observed at the night of May 9 (Sunday night).

President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have given separate messages greeting the countrymen on the occasion of Ramadan.

Muslims are meant to fast from dawn-to-dusk during the lunar month (Ramadan), a time of restraint and austerity.

Ramadan, also known as Ramzan, is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar. It is a time when Muslims around the world focus on prayers, fasting, giving to charity and religious devotion.

Fasting not only entails the elimination of food during the hours of sunlight, but also drinking (all beverages, including water), smoking, sex and “impure thoughts”, which can include violence, sexual thoughts and curse words.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Religious Affairs has directed that a maximum of 20 Muslims can take part in the congregational prayers (jamaat) at the mosque every time due to the COVId-19 pandemic.

The instruction will remain in force from April 14 until further instructions.

A notification signed by Deputy Secretary of Ministry of Religious Affairs Sakhawat Hossain said on Monday that a maximum of 20 Muslim-worshipers could take part in the five daily prayers at the mosque to ensure health safety amid the pandemic.

A maximum of 20 worshipers including Khatib, Imam, Hafez, Muazzin and Khadim will participate in Tarabi prayers in Ramadan.
Worshipers will take part in the Friday prayers or Jummah prayers following social distance and hygiene rules.