HC refuses to pass order on Shab-e-Barat

The High Court (HC) today refused to pass any order on a writ petition seeking its directive upon Islamic Foundation to set the night of April 20 for observing Shab-e-Barat.

The bench of Justice Tariq ul Hakim and Justice Md Shohrowardi said that it will not interfere on the issue at this stage as Islamic Foundation has declared that Shab-e-Barat will be observed on the night of April 21.

The bench, however, said it will consider if the petitioners move any petition in future including scientific methods of sighting the moon in other countries of the world, petitioners’ lawyer Advocate Taimur Alam Khandker told The Daily Star.

Following the HC order, Islamic Foundation’s decision for observing Shab-e-Barat on the night of April 21 will remain in effect, he said.

However, the people can observe Shab-e-Barat as per their belief and sighting of the moon and that may be on the night of April 20, Advocate Taimur added.

Earlier in the day, the HC bench allowed a religious organization -- Majlisu Ruiatul Hilal -- to file the writ petition.

On April 17, two other HC benches refused to allow the religious organisation to file the same writ petition seeking its directive upon Islamic Foundation to set the night of April 20 for observing Shab-e-Barat.

Islamic Foundation decided that Shab-e-Barat, a holy night for Muslims, will be observed on the night of April 21 after holding a meeting with the National Moon Sighting Committee at the foundation’s Baitul Mukarram office on April 16 afternoon, with State Minister for Religious Affairs Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah in the chair.

All 11 members of a sub-committee, formed with Islamic scholars on April 13 to resolve the confusion over the date, were also present at the meeting, according to a press release.