Crescent moon sighted, holy Ramadan begins tomorrow

The holy month of Ramadan, when Muslims engage in self-purification through fasting and abstinence, begins in the country tomorrow as the new crescent moon was sighted in Bangladesh sky today.

Lailatul Qadr, the night of divine blessing and benediction, will be observed on May 9.

The National Moon Sighting Committee took the decision at a meeting held at the Islamic Foundation's Baitul Mukarram office with State Minister for Religious Affairs Faridul Haque Khan in the chair.

After the meeting, the state minister announced the decision of the moon sighting committee through a press conference.

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

This year, a maximum of 20 people, including the khatib, imam, hafez, muazzin and khadim, can attend Tarabi prayers at a mosque during the holy month of Ramadan.

Religious Affairs Ministry issued a statement in this regard on April 12.

The statement was part of some instructions issued by the ministry for offering prayers at mosques from April 14 till further notice in order to ensure proper health safety measures following the current Covid-19 situation in Bangladesh.

The statement also said that a maximum of 20 devotees can participate in the five daily prayers in the mosque.

Besides, there will be no iftar mahfil and sehri at the mosques during the month of Ramadan.

The step was taken to prevent the transmission of coronavirus.

The local administration, law enforcement agencies, Islamic Foundation officials and the management committee of the concerned mosques have been requested to implement the guidelines.